By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Tension is rising in Delta State as residents of Issele-Azagba and Okpanam fear renewed clashes following an alleged illegal boundary adjustment between the two communities.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has strongly condemned the move, warning that it could spark communal unrest and leave families displaced.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 24, the National President of CDHR, Comrade Dr. Kehinde Prince Taiga, said the adjustment was unconstitutional and unlawful. “Local government chairmen have no power under Nigerian law to alter boundaries. This reckless act is a recipe for crisis,” he declared.
Taiga noted that the dispute is already before a competent court, yet some parties were resorting to “self-help,” which he said undermines judicial authority. “The judiciary must be respected. Any attempt to force a boundary change outside due process is a violation of the people’s rights,” he stressed.
He further alleged that a so-called consent judgment being used to back the adjustment was fraudulent. “There are clear irregularities, exclusion of stakeholders, and possible manipulation. Such injustice cannot stand,” he warned.
Community members have been living in fear, with many expressing worry that the crisis could destroy homes, farmlands, and businesses. “We just want to live in peace, but this boundary issue keeps tearing us apart,” a resident said.
CDHR urged the Delta State Government, the Attorney-General, and the Boundary Committee to act quickly to prevent bloodshed. It also called for an independent probe into the disputed judgment.
“We demand an immediate halt to all boundary-related activities until the court decides. The people deserve peace, not conflict,” Taiga said, while appealing to both communities to remain calm.