Rivers
ASALGA Community Debunks Reports On Ownership Of Land Its Settlements
The Minama Community in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State has condemned new media reports by some persons from the Bille community that claim ownership of some settlements belonging to Minama, including Dabara.
A statement signed by the King of Minama Clan, HRH. Iboroma T. Pokubo, notes that the repeated media assault of the Bille people should be checked by the Rivers State Government and the security community to avert any act of provocation around an active oil and gas area in the State.
He was particularly troubled by what he chrsitened the “brazen challenge of the Kalabari ethnic Nationality by the Bille people and the disrespect for the person of the Amayanabo of Torusara-Piri, King Mujaheed Dokubo Asari whose contributions they are trying to frustrate”.
According to the statement, “the Minama Community had taken enough from the Bille people and hopes that the Rivers State Government would issue the White Paper on the Ke/Bille crisis, especially as it concerns the interest of the peace loving people of Minama.
“Minama is one of the earliest natives of the lower Niger Delta and acquired and controlled more than 30 settlements, the highest area to be owned by a single group.”
He said the scope of authority of the Minama Clan is confirmed by its pioneering roles in the area, adding that its territory began from “Obule-Bebe in Minama-Toru, currently referred to as Buguma Creek, to Egenegene, down to Pambaduaye, bursting out to Kalabari-Toru, and also connecting Kumbulu Creek to Dabara, down to Obu-Toru.”
The statement continued that, “Dabara settlement that is being claimed by the Bille people is on the same Island with Elem-Kalabari and Elem-Minama and could not be owned by Bille that is deep in the Creek.”
He called on the people of Bille to revisit their history and as much as possible stay on their lane and avoid crisis.
“The desire of all well-meaning people is peace and development. I hope that Bille people will take a cue”, he concluded.