Keep Off From Our Ancestral Lands, Idumu Osume Progressive Group Warns Sellers, Buyers

By Frank Oshanugor

Land speculators reportedly on the verge of concluding a land deal at Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State have been warned by Idumu Osume Progressive Union to discontinue the transaction or face imminent consequences.

It was learnt that some elders and youths in a particular family at Idumu Osume quarters have concluded plans to sell ancestral land belonging to the entire quarters largely made of five different family units to, yet to be identified buyers.

Information gathered indicate that those who signed for and on behalf of Idumu Osume and the youths in consenting to the sale of the land as vendors include Mr. Godwin Anwuzia who is Diokpa of Umualauzo and his second in command Mr. Okechukwu Nwanua. Other signatories are Elder Eleazar Ashinze (Diokpa Idumesi), Messrs Benson Tunde (Diokpa Idumu Okwude), Emeka Ojie (Secretary, Idumu Osume quarters), Patrick Ikem (Secretary, Idumu Osume quarters), Lawrence Ikem, EJIKE Osakwe, Frank Ugbechie and Uche Elue.

According to our findings, the land in question is 2000 plots of 100ft x 100ft at N350,000 per plot.

In a statement by the Idumu Osume Progressive Union, the afore-mentioned vendors are imposters who are members of one family unit (Umualauzo) of Idumu Osume.

According to the statement, there are other five major families namely Umu Aliko, Umu Ashama, Umu Ute and so on, in Idumu Osume quarters who collectively own the land in Uzor Ugbo that are not involved in the illegality.

In their words, “it is unacceptable for a few people from one family out of five families to sign on behalf of everyone. It is criminal and an orchestrated attempt to undermine the fundamental rights of others.”

Our findings reveal that the negotiated selling prize of the land is said to be in the region of N700million and it was reliably gathered that the deal would be sealed on Friday 25th July, 2025 by the sellers and buyers.

The plan to sell the jointly owned land and negotiation that followed, were said to be outside the knowledge of the remaining families that make up Idumu Osume quarters until there was an attempt to discuss the sharing formula of the negotiated N700million when the bubble bursted.

Those at the vanguard of the deal had squealed some information which gave them out as having planned that out of the negotiated N700million, they, the sellers would part with N500million while N200million would go to the remaining families.

As a first step, the Idumu Osume Progressive Union has chosen to warn the so called buyers to keep away from the land as serious consequences await anyone who gets involved in the illegal transaction.

In a Caveat Emptor (sighted by our reporter) which was prepared by the Union’s Legal Adviser, Barr. Onyeisi Chiemeke and bearing the Union Convener/Coordinator’s name; Chief Felix Oscars Osakwe, it reads:

“The Idumu Osume Progressive Union – a union of diverse interests acting as the representative of such interests, wishes to draw the attention of the general public particularly intending buyers that, that large expanse of land measuring more than 30 Hectares and particularly described as “ANI PINEAPPLE” at Uzo-Ugbo Idumu-Osume Farm Road, Ubulu-Uku Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State is not for sale. And a transacting party on the said land does so at his/her own peril as no person has been mandated to sell any portion of the said land.”