The indigenes of Umuelu in Umuagwo Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have decried the invasion and forceful acquisition of their land located along Port Harcourt Road by the Imo State Government and a few individuals.
They alleged that the government and certain individuals have, over the years, been encroaching on their land and provoking disputes.
In a chat with Ohaji/Egbema Practising Journalists in Owerri on Thursday, Marcellinus Chukwu, a prominent leader in the area, stated that they visited the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Owerri, to ascertain whether the government is aware of the encroachment on their ancestral land.
Chukwu expressed shock that an unidentified group of persons had entered their land to survey and bulldoze it, accompanied by heavily armed military and police officers who were allegedly shooting recklessly and scaring away peaceful, unarmed villagers who came to inquire about the invasion. He further alleged that crops and properties were destroyed and the land was forcibly taken.
He noted that some portions of the land were purchased by private estate developers who have been using them productively, asserting that the land rightfully belongs to Umuelu Umuagwo, not Nkarahia Mgbuishi.
He said: “the land is not in dispute as the Supreme Court clearly did not mention such in its judgement”.
The community leader appealed to the government to follow due process in acquiring their land, adding that they are law-abiding people who are always open to goodness, development, and economic prosperity, which he said the community has consistently supported.
He said: “the disputed land which the Supreme Court decided did not include the one being invaded. The Apex Court did not also say that the land was awarded to Akpaelu’s family in Nkarahia Mgbuishi – but cash crops, which we paid (four hundred thousand naira for to the Court). Government owns every land. But it should follow legal process in acquiring our land. The land does not belong to Nkarahia, it belongs to Umuagwo”.
They urged the government to consider the interests of the natural owners of the land and the estate developers who lawfully purchased some portions, as it proceeds with the acquisition.
He highlighted the views of some leaders in the area such as Oha Cyprian Izukamma Chukwu, Chief Onyenacho, and Chief Anokuru Joseph Lechi, who insisted that the community will vehemently resist any move by the government or individuals to seize their land to their detriment.
They warned the Mgbuishi indigenes not to join forces with the Akpaelu family in encroaching on their land, in order to avoid communal clashes and potential legal battles.
Addressing the practising journalists from the oil-rich Ohaji/Egbema, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu, stated that the government is following due process in acquiring the said land.
He denied that the government invaded the land with military and police officers, as alleged by the people of Umuelu.
Onuegbu maintained that the government is in the process of acquiring the land and confirmed that a perimeter survey has been conducted by the Surveyor General of the Ministry of Lands.
He further remarked that the natural owners of the land or private estate developers would be duly or adequately compensated by the government, which he said is legally acquiring the land for beneficial use.
He said: “In pursuant to Sections 28 and 29 of the Land Act of 1978, the Government of Imo State intends to acquire all that parcel of land known and called ‘Ogburuzo Ugwu’ land, measuring 500.008 hectares… Government is ready to pay Compensation to anyone who has verifiable interest in the said parcel of land”.
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