The Oboro community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State has firmly denied allegations of abduction made by the Alagbabiri community. According to Oboro leaders, the three youths in question were apprehended for allegedly trespassing on their farmland and taking agricultural produce.

In a statement issued on August 3, 2026, Oboro community leaders explained that the youths were caught while reportedly stealing palm fruits, cassava, and fish from their land. The community's chairman, Mr. Selebi Tarebi, emphasized that the youths were not abducted but were instead handed over to the police in Bomadi for investigation.

The ongoing tensions between Oboro, an Ijaw community, and Alagbabiri, an Urhobo community, stem from a long-standing dispute over land and resources. Oboro leaders accused Alagbabiri of attempting to misrepresent the situation and portray themselves as victims, which they described as a diversion from the alleged trespass on their ancestral land.

The statement from Oboro highlighted the community's commitment to lawful conduct, as they chose to involve the police rather than take matters into their own hands. They stated, "Choosing not to take the law into their own hands, the residents of Oboro peacefully handed over the trespassers, along with the recovered stolen items, to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Bomadi for formal investigation."

The community also provided a historical context to the dispute, revealing that the boundary between Oboro and Bomadi has been a subject of legal adjudication. They referenced a judgment from the Native/Tribal Court in Bomadi in 1951, which ruled in favor of Oboro regarding the land in question.

Oboro community leaders have called for intervention from Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Commissioner of Police to ensure a fair investigation into the matter. They specifically requested that the case be transferred from the Ughelli Area Command to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Asaba for a more thorough inquiry.

In response to the situation, CSP John Emmanuel, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Bomadi Police Division, confirmed that the three individuals were indeed brought to his station after their arrest by Oboro residents. He clarified that they were later transferred to the appropriate police division in Ughelli South for further investigation. Emmanuel noted that the matter was not an abduction but rather a case of trespassing and theft of agricultural products.

As the situation unfolds, the Oboro community continues to assert its rights over its ancestral land, urging the relevant authorities to address the ongoing disputes and prevent further encroachment by neighboring communities.