Imo communities of Owerri West and Ohaji/Egbema council Areas of the state on Thursday pleaded with the Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodimma, to intervene over alleged Land grabbing by the military.
They spoke in a statement to newsmen in Owerri during their protest at the Imo office in charge of land recovery along Okigwe Road, Owerri.The communities led by their village heads from Umuoti/Umuezu villages in Mgbirichi, Ohaji/Egbema and Obinze, Oforola in Owerri West council Areas were Mr. Sam Ihezuo, Okechukwu Agulana, Remigius Opara, Chinedu Amaefula, Samuel Nkwocha, Uchenna Orie, Batholomew Akalanze, G.C. Ibeawuchi among others.
According to their demands to Governor Uzodimma that; “With utmost sincerity and humility sir, we your loyal subjects write to humbly appeal for your intervention over our ancestral land occupied by 34 Army Brigade Obinze commonly referred to as Army land.
“Sir. while we are bemoaning over the initial acquisition, the Army overlapped and occupied more of our lands right up to the back yard of our houses. As it stands result of this excess, the three towns are now faced with difficult land-locked now, there is no more space for the present and future generations to expand.“That the Army limit themselves to the sole purpose of the acquisition, i.e. building of military barracks and release the excess occupied land to us.
The land was not made for them as Estate, to sell and make profits while the Owners who are peasant farmers are striped naked without any room for expansion or farming. The payment of adequate compensation for the land acquired in 1977/78 i.e. Over forty (40) years ago. That the Army limit themselves to the initial acquisition of 1978/1979 and release back the overlapped area to us.”
Responding, the Imo state governor’s Special Adviser, SA, on Land Recovery, Paschal Nwakamma said: “I have had your complain and your report and we will find out the true position and if you are right we will call them but if you are wrong you have no matter. I plead with you to maintain peace and order. I will convene the matter to the governor of the state. I will get back to you in 7 days time. We will make sure that there is peace between you and the military. Our govt is not a government of grabbing of land. I assure you we will look into that.”
