Land Dispute: Amatu Town Calls For Govt Intervention Over Security Threats

The leadership of Amatu Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has called on the Bayelsa State Government, the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to urgently intervene in an escalating dispute involving alleged claims over the Agholiyo, also known as Amatu Ilaje settlement, and reported security concerns along the waterways linking Amatu, Bilabiri and neighbouring communities.

The Amatu leadership alleged that an individual from neighbouring Bilabiri Community, identified as Mr. Ebimene Abaka, popularly known as “Small Fire,” and members of his group have been asserting that the Agholiyo area belongs to Bilabiri, a claim which the Amatu community strongly rejects.

According to the community, the position being attributed to Mr. Abaka and his associates should not be interpreted as the official position of the entire Bilabiri Community. Amatu leaders said they believe the matter should be resolved through dialogue, documentation and lawful investigation rather than through threats, intimidation or confrontation.

The community stressed that its objection is directed at what it described as the actions and alleged conduct of an individual and his associates, and not at the people of Bilabiri, with whom it said it has historically shared neighbouring ties.

The Amatu leadership maintained that Agholiyo, popularly referred to as Amatu Ilaje, is within Amatu’s traditional and communal interest and called for the competent authorities to investigate the historical and documentary basis of competing claims over the area.

The community urged the government to establish the facts surrounding ownership and jurisdiction through appropriate traditional, administrative, legal and land-related records. It also appealed for any determination reached by the appropriate authorities to be clearly documented and communicated to the affected communities in order to prevent misinformation and future conflict.

According to Amatu leaders, a transparent resolution of the land question would help remove the uncertainty that has allegedly created tension among residents, workers and neighbouring communities.

The community further alleged that workers operating around Agholiyo have faced harassment and intimidation and that working equipment and other materials belonging to labourers have allegedly been seized. It specifically alleged that bags of black sand and working tools belonging to persons operating under permits or arrangements recognised by Amatu landowners were allegedly confiscated.

The community also alleged that some supplies and materials intended for development activities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) arrangement had been intercepted.
These allegations have not been independently established.

The community therefore called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the claims, identify those responsible if the allegations are substantiated, and recover any property found to have been unlawfully taken.

Amatu leaders said the recovery of allegedly seized working materials would be an important confidence-building measure and could help reduce tension between the communities.

The community said the dispute took a more serious turn on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, following an alleged shooting incident involving Amatu youths travelling through the Bilabiri waterfront.

According to the account presented by the Amatu leadership, some of its youths had travelled to neighbouring Iduwini Community and were returning from an errand when they passed through the Bilabiri waterfront.

The community alleged that Mr. Abaka, popularly known as Small Fire, and associates laid an ambush and opened fire on two boats carrying the Amatu youths.

Amatu claimed that the occupants of the boats managed to navigate through the area while chanting traditional Egbesu songs and that the alleged attackers subsequently withdrew into the surrounding bush.

The allegation has not been independently verified, and no conclusion should be drawn about the identity or responsibility of any individual until the appropriate authorities conduct a thorough investigation.

Nevertheless, the community described the reported incident as a serious security concern, particularly because the waterways serve as major transportation routes for fishermen, traders, workers and residents of riverine communities.

The community also rejected allegations circulating in some quarters and on social media that Amatu youths deliberately planned an invasion of Bilabiri Community.

Amatu leaders said representatives who travelled to Bilabiri on Monday, August 17, 2026, did so for the purpose of seeking a peaceful resolution to the dispute and requesting the return of allegedly seized working materials.

According to the community, the delegation was unarmed and approached the Bilabiri leadership to appeal for intervention and caution regarding the alleged conduct of Mr. Abaka and his associates.

The delegation reportedly gave a 24-hour window for the matter to be addressed, saying the intention was to prevent further escalation and preserve peaceful relations between the neighbouring communities.

Amatu therefore urged residents of Bilabiri not to interpret every movement by Amatu residents through the area as an act of aggression, stressing that the communities have legitimate reasons to use the waterways connecting them.

The Amatu leadership also rejected allegations against some of its leaders, including Mr. Firstman Job, Mr. Firstboy Job and Timakawei Ebiyekon, whom it said were involved in efforts to manage the situation peacefully. The community equally rejected allegations linking the Paramount Ruler of Iduwini Kingdom, King Joel Iban (Ogiobo IX), to any preparation of traditional charms in connection with the incident.

Similarly, it called for allegations against personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and security operatives stationed in the area to be properly investigated rather than used to divert attention from the central security concerns. The community maintained that security personnel should be allowed to perform their duties professionally and that any complaint against them should be subjected to proper investigation.

Amatu leaders also raised concerns over what they described as a pattern of alleged violence, intimidation and criminal activity attributed to Mr. Abaka and his associates. These allegations include claims of armed intimidation, robbery, threats and other violent incidents in the riverine area.

The community stressed that such allegations are serious and should not be treated as established facts without independent investigation and evidence. It therefore called on security agencies to investigate all reported incidents and determine whether any individual or group has been involved in criminal activities in the affected communities.

The leadership also referred to the reported death of Gen. Frank B. Seide, whom it described as a respected son and militant commander from Bilabiri.

However, Amatu expressly called for the circumstances surrounding his death, as well as any allegation of responsibility, to be independently investigated rather than allowing unsubstantiated accusations to become a source of further communal tension.

The community further expressed concern about the safety of workers, including foreign nationals, operating around the area.
It alleged that the prevailing tension could create an environment in which workers become vulnerable to attacks or kidnapping.

That allegation has not been independently verified, but the community urged security agencies to take preventive measures around mining locations, settlements and waterways to protect lives and property. Amatu leaders said protecting workers and legitimate economic activities would benefit not only Amatu but all neighbouring communities whose residents depend on the riverine economy.

Against the backdrop of the reported developments, the Amatu Community leadership appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri, relevant security commands and other appropriate authorities to intervene urgently.

The community also appealed to prominent Niger Delta leader High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to assist in promoting peace and security in the area.

The appeal, according to the community, is not intended to encourage confrontation but to ensure that all parties are protected and that disputes are resolved through lawful and peaceful means.
Amatu specifically called for: A thorough investigation into the alleged shooting incident of August 19, 2026.

Investigation of the alleged seizure of working equipment and black sand.
Recovery of any property found to have been unlawfully taken.
Investigation into allegations of armed intimidation and other criminal activities. An impartial examination of competing claims over Agholiyo/Amatu Ilaje. Increased security presence along vulnerable waterways and settlements. Protection of legitimate workers, residents, fishermen and traders.

Dialogue between Amatu and Bilabiri leaderships to prevent further escalation.
Withdrawal of unsubstantiated allegations capable of inflaming communal tensions. Prosecution of anyone found by competent authorities to have committed criminal offences.

The Amatu leadership appealed directly to the people and leadership of Bilabiri Community to dissociate themselves from any individual conduct that could threaten peace between the neighbouring communities.
It urged Bilabiri residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist in investigating criminal allegations.

The community warned that shielding or supporting individuals accused of criminal conduct, if such allegations are established, would ultimately have negative consequences for the wider community.
Amatu leaders argued that communal development cannot thrive where residents live under fear, intimidation or recurrent conflict.

They also expressed concern that prolonged insecurity could negatively affect development programmes and legitimate economic opportunities in the area, including projects associated with the PIA Host Communities.

The Amatu leadership appealed to its own youths and residents to remain calm and avoid retaliatory action. It stressed that no individual should take the law into his or her own hands and that every allegation should be submitted to competent authorities for investigation.

The community said retaliation would only deepen mistrust and could transform a dispute involving individuals into a wider conflict between two neighbouring communities.
It therefore urged youths from both Amatu and Bilabiri to exercise restraint and avoid actions capable of provoking violence.

The Amatu community leadership reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence with Bilabiri and other neighbouring communities. It maintained that the people of Amatu have no interest in communal conflict and are primarily concerned about protecting lives, property, legitimate economic activities and community development.

The community said it would continue to pursue lawful channels to address the alleged land dispute and security concerns. It also emphasised that only a transparent and credible investigation can establish the facts surrounding the alleged shootings, seizure of materials, land claims and other reported incidents.

The leadership consequently urged the Bayelsa State Government, Federal Government, traditional institutions, security agencies and relevant Niger Delta stakeholders to act before the situation degenerates into a broader communal crisis.

The developing situation between Amatu and Bilabiri requires caution, responsible leadership and an evidence-based approach.

While Amatu Community has made serious allegations against an individual identified as Ebimene Abaka, popularly known as Small Fire, those allegations remain claims requiring independent investigation and should not be interpreted as proof of guilt.

Similarly, allegations made against Amatu youths, community leaders, security personnel or other individuals should also be subjected to proper investigation before conclusions are reached.

The priority, therefore, should be the protection of lives, recovery of any unlawfully seized property, peaceful resolution of the land question, accountability for any verified criminal conduct and preservation of the long-standing relationship between the neighbouring communities.

Amatu Community has appealed for urgent intervention, saying that early and impartial action by the relevant authorities could prevent the current tension from escalating into a wider communal crisis.

Disclaimer: This publication presents allegations and positions is attributed to the Amatu Community leadership.

The allegations have not been independently established by Hotnews, and no person or group mentioned should be regarded as guilty of any offence unless established by competent authorities or a court of law.

Hotnews does not endorse violence, communal hostility, vigilantism or extrajudicial action and encourages all parties to pursue peaceful and lawful channels for resolving the dispute.