A former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyagbara, has reaffirmed that Oyigbo Local Government Area in Rivers State belongs to the Ogoni ethnic nationality.
Speaking during an interactive session with community leaders, Pyagbara maintained that the historical and ancestral ownership of Oyigbo remains with the Ogoni people, despite the presence of settlers from a neighbouring state.
He explained that the current occupants of Oyigbo are migrants who moved into the area over the years, but that their settlement does not alter the original identity of the land as Ogoni territory.
Pyagbara stressed that the creation of the local government area did not erase the Ogoni people’s ancestral claim, adding that history and oral tradition both affirm Oyigbo’s Ogoni roots.
Recalling the painful events of the past, the former MOSOP President referenced the 1994 military invasion, during which fourteen Ogoni communities clustered around Ban-goi were reportedly destroyed.
He described the incident as one of the darkest moments in Ogoni history and called for continued unity among the people to protect their land, heritage, and identity.
Pyagbara also urged government authorities to promote justice and reconciliation in the region, emphasizing that the recognition of Ogoni territorial rights is key to lasting peace and development in Rivers State.
