C/River community residents decry demolition of houses, shops

RESIDENTS of Etab Ayip community, Kasuk II Qua Clan, in Calabar municipality, have cried out over what they described as unlawful demolition of their houses and shops by the Cross River State government.

The sleepy community, situated along the GoodLuck Jonathan By-pass, expressed dismay over what they described as unlawful demolition of their houses and shops by the state government, without recourse to a subsisting court order restraining them from doing so.

Residents of the community, who spoke in separate interviews with the Nigerian Tribune in Calabar during the recent demolition of houses, shops and other buildings along the by-pass, said that the demolition was carried out by the state Ministry of Lands without any form of notice to the community.

Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that over 20 houses and shops were demolished, which the Ministry of Lands claimed were illegality built.

A top official in the Ministry of Lands, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, said that the by-pass has become an area of high interest to government because of the garment factory and other signature project sited by the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, in the area.

“The government of the day has huge investment hub in that locality, business concerns and interests has grown in that place there is a lot of eyes  are on the place and many of them the people there built without approval but since there is a court order from the High court it should be obeyed” the source said.

One of the affected residents, Eyo Ekpenyong  described the action of the state government as contempt of Court, adding that ‘’ the matter was in Court and the Court had given an order stopping the demolition of buildings and structures by the ministry of lands but I wonder why they disobeyed the court order’’

Another resident, Mr. Godwin Ekpeyong told the Nigerian Tribune that this was the second time his house was been demolished without notice despite the fact that he built with approval and the structure is also located more 150 meters away from the road.

“This is pure oppression, it is an affront on us, they are just using the name of the governor to intimidate us, but the truth is that there is an order from the court restraining them from carrying out any form of demolition yet they have gone ahead to carry out the exercise in a contemptuous manner.