From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The Asagba of Asaba, Prof. (Obi) Chike Edozien, yesterday, frowned at the dangerous incursion into the Delta State capital by hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The monarch was reacting to a protest by residents of the Anwai area of Asaba against the invasion by hoodlums who are allegedly killing people on a daily basis.
The people alleged that the hoodlums were using an abandoned 100 hectares of land, for a failed housing estate project of the Federal Government, for their hideout. The Asagba, who sided with his people on appeals to the state government to de-acquire the questionable land, expressed worries over the activities of hoodlums.
Although the paramount ruler of the Asaba Kingdom said he was not aware of the land transaction between the state government and the community in 2007, he maintained that the de-acquisition would give the community the leverage to flush out the hoodlums.
“The Asagba is the custodian of all lands, but it is not to my knowledge how the government acquired that land; they did not follow the routine of coming to the palace to acquire that land.
But I am now concerned that the area has become a security issue, and I am completely in support of the government to de-acquire the land and give it to the community for proper use,” he said.
The monarch stated that it was unfortunate that the state government failed to involve the palace in the land acquisition. He disclosed, however, that the process of de-acquisition had commenced. He vowed that hoodlums, who disguised as IPOB operatives, would be kept at bay from Asaba, so that residents of the state capital would continue to live in peace as they pursue their daily means of livelihood.