Management of Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State and the Asagba in Council have raised the alarm over the activities of land grabbers and blackmailers.
The blackmail may not be unconnected with the land encroachment at the college, the excavation there and the alleged involvement of the monarch, Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien.
According to one of the news making the rounds the Asagba of Asaba had reportedly cried out over illegal mining At Federal College of Education Technical.
It was also stated that one of the monarch’s kinsmen have been selling the college land and claimed that Asagba of Asaba is aware.
The provost, FCE(T), Asaba, Prof Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, said the college authorities approved the excavation to aid construction of Koka Road and another behind the college with a view to reclaiming the land thereafter, wondering how a genuine approval will amount to illegal mining.
“They are not miners. The college is aware. We gave them the place to excavate for the construction of roads to reclaim thereafter. Did they try to find out from us? It was also stated that somebody, who just came back from where he went to, jumped into selling our land and claimed that the Asagba of Asaba is aware.
“Does Asagba of Asaba have the mandate to sell federal government’s land that has a master plan and is lodged with the town planning authorities? Their write-up and postings are to scare us and confuse people because they know we are aware. The federal government is aware of all our activities as I cannot embark on any illegal act.
“We don’t want to join issues with the Asagba of Asaba because he is our father and we respect him. Anyone colluding with unscrupulous elements within Asaba community to encroach on the college land does that at their peril,” she said.
The provost called on the monarch to warn those who are dropping his name to buy the college land to desist from such illegal act forthwith “as we will not take it lightly with any one bent on dragging the name of the college and my person to the mud” she warned.