Hundreds of residents of Ifa Ikot Okpon community in Uyo local government of Akwa Ibom State have been rendered homeless following the demolition of their homes viewed as illegal structures on government land.
LEADERSHIP gathered the state Ministry of Lands and Town Planning pulled down the 182 buildings on December 19, 2024, making residents unable to enjoy the Christmas and the new year festivities.
Speaking to newsmen in his palace, the village head of Ifa Ikot Okpon, Etteidung Uwem Tom Udo, maintained that the state government has never acquired land from the community as there was no record in the Ministry of Lands and Town Planning, as proof.
The traditional ruler, fighting back tears, recalled that owners of the demolished buildings were shocked when the government bulldozer invaded their community and demolished houses with household properties valued in hundreds of millions of naira cleared off.
“As we speak now, 182 families have nowhere to live after their houses were demolished,” he lamented.
“It is a known fact that government take lands for overriding public interest, but in this case, what is the public interest here?” he queried.
The monarch explained that government gives the land to many people who came up with papers claiming portions of the land contrary to claims that the lands were acquired for development.
He challenged Akwa Ibom State government to produce any document to prove that the community land has been acquired.
“We had five meetings with the past commissioners for Lands in the state including the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, when he was the commissioner for Lands. We asked them to show us documents of the land being taken over by government and evidence of compensation to the land owners but it was not there.
“When Umo Eno was the commissioner for Lands, I knelt down, even as a traditional ruler, during one of our meetings and begged him that government should leave the land to owners, and he promised that government has withdrawn from the lands.
“Now I don’t have access to the governor because I would have reminded him about that scenario in his office. I am pleading with him now to come and rescue us from the hands of overzealous officials who have rendered our people homeless,” he stressed.
However, victims of the demolished buildings including Thomas Ekot, 75, Charles Bassey, a retired FRCN staff, and several others have continued to cry out, seeking government intervention.
Meanwhile, the communities through their monarchs, have dragged the state government and its agents to court and demanded for compensation of N600million for the lands and prayed the court to compel government to negotiate through the state Estate Valuers for the buildings demolished and, also, resettle the owners.
In a suit number HC 1/11/451/ 0514 between Etteidung Uwem Tom Udo, Etteidung Edet Effiong Udodong , Etteidung Ime Effiong Akpan and four others vs Hon commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, the governor, and the state government as defendants.
In the court summons which was made available to journalists in Uyo, the community prayed the court to “declare that the parcel of land situated at Ifa Ikot Okpon community in Etoi clan of Uyo LGA, known traditionally as Akai Itiat Nwomo Anyiam, stretching to Edem Eko Umana, has not been acquired, and is not the subject of any compulsory acquisition by the defendants.”
Other prayers included ”a declaration that the defendants can not take over the claimants’ land/ demolish their properties on the land known as Akai Nwomo Anyiam stretching to Edem Eko Umana situated at Ifa Ikot Okpon community without complying with the law regulating the compulsory acquisition of property in Nigeria, as provided, and N600m damages for the unlawful encroachment, trespass, take over, destruction of property, farmlands , the flora and fauna on the land”
The case is slated for a hearing on February 11. The erstwhile commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Capt. Iniobong Ekong (rtd), could not respond to the allegation because he was amongst those dropped from the cabinet on Friday, following the governor’s dissolution of the Exco.
Also, a senior official of the ministry said, “I can’t speak since the matter is already in court.”
