Tensions between Letugbene and Ogbotobo communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have intensified, following conflicting statements issued by the youth bodies of both communities over an ongoing land dispute involving Renaissance Africa Energy Company (RAEC) Ltd.
On Saturday, July 19, 2025, youth leaders from the Ogbotobo community publicly denied allegations made by the Letugbene Federated Communities Youth Concern Body, which claimed that a young man, identified as Tinus Sunday, was brutally assaulted and left unconscious by Ogbotobo youths.
The Ogbotobo youth leaders, including Comrade Pereyeibo Oweilayefa, Comrade Akeme Moses, Chief Isaiah Tangbowei, Comrade Daniel Sapele, Comrade Solomon Akuna, Comrade Michael Tare Enaigbagha, and Comrade Raphael Benson, dismissed the claims as “cheap lies, blackmail, and deception” intended to manipulate public opinion and distract from the real issues surrounding the land dispute.
According to the Ogbotobo youths, the images of Tinus Sunday bandaged and lying in what appears to be a hospital bed were staged. They alleged that the Letugbene community dressed him up to gain sympathy and shift blame away from their own violent actions during earlier confrontations.
They claimed that Tinus Sunday was not beaten but merely cautioned and warned after being identified as one of the individuals involved in armed attacks on Ogbotobo settlements. These attacks, they said, caused property damage estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of naira. The Ogbotobo group emphasized that any effort to portray him as a victim of violence was a calculated attempt to derail investigations and avoid accountability.
The Ogbotobo youths questioned the credibility of Letugbene’s narrative, asking why Tinus Sunday was not taken to a well-equipped medical facility if his injuries were as serious as claimed. They further challenged Letugbene leaders to allow an independent medical examination of Tinus to confirm the extent of his injuries and to publicly clarify his role in the violence against Ogbotobo.
They accused Letugbene of engaging in stalling tactics to prevent law enforcement and government officials from visiting the crime scenes to verify the extent of the damage inflicted on Ogbotobo. The statement criticized Letugbene’s alleged resistance to investigation, asserting that these tactics were aimed at evading justice.
The Ogbotobo community called on relevant government authorities, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and military personnel, to conduct a full, impartial investigation into the crisis. They insisted that Letugbene should be held accountable for the destruction of property and that any attempts to mislead authorities with false claims must be addressed.
Their demands for peace included three conditions: that Letugbene pay compensation for the alleged damages caused by their unprovoked attacks, issue a public apology to Ogbotobo and the relevant government bodies, and formally renounce any further claims over the disputed land.
The Ogbotobo youth leaders warned that peace could not be achieved unless these terms were met. They emphasized that while the community prefers peaceful resolution, they are fully prepared to defend themselves if provoked further, declaring that they are ready to “defend [themselves] with the last drop of [their] blood.”
In contrast, Letugbene’s press release, also dated July 19, 2025, portrayed their community as the aggrieved party. Issued by Comrade Ogi Funme Newman, the Letugbene Youth Concern Body accused Ogbotobo youths of violently attacking Tinus Sunday without provocation as he was passing through the waterfront area. The statement claimed Tinus was left in a coma and was being treated at the Letugbene community health center.
Both communities have now issued appeals for intervention from top government and security officials, including the Chief of Army Staff, the Department of State Services, the Joint Task Force in Bayelsa, and the Chairman of Ekeremor Local Government.
As of now, no official casualty figures have been confirmed. The situation remains tense, with both sides holding firm to their respective narratives and demanding justice. Stakeholders continue to watch closely for any government response or deployment of security forces to prevent further violence in the area.