From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The people of Obokwu Obinze community in Owerri West council of Imo State are on a collision course with the Imo State Housing Authority (ISHA) of the state’s ministry of housing over alleged land grabbing by the latter.
The community has vowed to resist “invasion” by the officials of the ministry and housing authority and taking from them what they said was the only land left for the community to farm.
Last Tuesday, aggrieved women of Oboukwu community picketed the Imo State House of Assembly to protest the alleged forceful takeover of their farmland by the Imo State Ministry of Housing and its agency, the Imo State Housing Authority.
The women, who numbered over 100 and dressed in traditional mourning attire, were barred from entering the house of assembly complex by the security agents manning the gates. Not deterred, the protesting women headed to the ministry of housing at the state secretariat where they were also barred from gaining access to the ministry of housing. However, the aggrieved women only agreed to vacate the entrance of the state secretariat when they were assured by an official of the ministry that their grievances will be looked into.
The leader of the women, Mrs. Ayozie Grace, decried the intimidation of hapless members of the community by officials of the Imo State ministry of housing, using police officers from the Tiger Base (anti-kidnapping tactical team of the Imo State Police Command).
She said that the officials of the ministry of housing, led by one Pastor Anthony, have demolished the farmlands of the people, and the lands being forcefully acquired were the same lands conceded to the community as compensatory land by the state government through negotiation with the community.
She said: “We are protesting to draw the attention of the state government over the forceful acquisition of our farmlands by the officials of the Imo State Ministry of Housing, through one Pastor Anthony of the Imo State Housing Coporation who is leading the onslaught against the peace-loving community by forcefully taking the small portion of land left to our people out of negotiations between the previous governments and the community. We are calling on Governor Uzodimma to save us from the land grabbing activities of the ministry of housing and its officials as we have no other land with which to farm or for our children to even build house.
“We don’t have any other land for farming or where to build even a house as the officials of the ministry have demolished some of the homes even built by widows in the portion of land left by their late husbands. Our lands in Ovoro/Uzo Umuocha/Mgbaouzobaji and Obokwu Obinze have been forcefully taken by the officials of the ministry of housing through the Imo Housing Corporation who have engaged the officers of the Tiger Base of the Imo State Police Command to intimidate and harass community members.”
Also, Nze Ajoku, an elder of the community, said: “The land in question is a product of negotiation. We, original landowners, having conceded greater portions of the land to the Imo State Housing Corporation, which they have sold to individuals as Redemption Housing Estate and Heartland Court. The same officials have returned to take that which was conceded to the people and once again to sell to individuals to the detriment of the indigenous people. The community will resist it.”
Similarly, Elder Ayozie stated: “For many years, the Imo Housing Authority kept to the boundary and did not trespass into the parcels of lands at Ovoro Uzo Umuocha , Mgbabo Ochasi. But recently some officials of the Imo Housing Authority, including Pastor Anthony and one Pascal, in company of rented thugs and armed policemen from Tiger Base, invaded Ovoro Uzo, Umuocha and Mgbabo Ochasi and destroyed the houses being erected by our people. They beat, arrested and detained our people. These parcels of lands are what is left for people to carry on with their farming and even for our sons to build in the future. We call on Governor Uzodimma to come to our aid. He should also order the officials of the Imo Housing Authority to steer clear from our land.”
However, reacting to the allegation of land grabbing, the Ministry of Housing, in a statement by Prince Stanford Arinze Nwokedi, said that the lands in question were lawfully acquired by Imo State government during the administration of Governor Achike Udenwa and compensation was duly paid.
The statement reads: “The Ministry of Housing and Imo Housing Corporation have taken note of an orchestrated demonstration over government-acquired land known as Redemption Estate, duly allocated to Imo State Housing Corporation vide Certificate of Occupancy No. 23, Page 23, Volume 344, in Ministry of Lands and Deeds Register of Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning.
“The afore-stated recent demonstrations and agitations are against the enforcement of a court judgment regarding Redemption Estate, which affirms ownership to Imo State Housing Corporation.
“To set the record straight, here are the key facts: The Imo State Government had lawfully acquired the land, Redemption Estate, during the Gov. Achike Udenwa government.
“Redemption Estate was being developed in phases: Phase 1 has long been developed, while the development of Phases 2, 3 and Redemption Exclusive Estate (REE) of the same estate remain ongoing.
“The acquisition status of Redemption Estate was disputed in court between a few native landowners and the Imo Housing Corporation. A ruling has been given with the court judgment in favour of the Imo Housing Corporation. It is instructive that the elders of the donor communities are not involved in the agitations.
“Full compensation for Redemption Estate phases have been paid to the elders of the donor communities during the same Achike Udenwa government.
“The Ministry of Housing and Imo Housing Corporation have noted that the unnecessary demonstrations and agitations are being orchestrated by a few individuals (whose parents and forebears had received full compensation for the same acquired land). These individuals have still gone ahead to sell part of the land to unsuspecting buyers.
“The Imo State Government, through the Imo Housing Corporation, has taken possession of the land and advises the public to exercise caution when engaging in land transactions. It is essential to always conduct thorough search with the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Urban Planning to avoid any potential issues.”