Community Leaders Protest Alleged Land Grabbing In Abia Assembly Area

Leaders of Umoke Kindred in Ofeke Azueke, Ndume Ibeku in Abia State have protested peacefully over alleged encroachment on their land located around the Abia State House of Assembly Complex, Umuahia.

The community leaders, including Chiefs Chinmobi Nwokocha, Kingsley Ogbonna, and the women leader, Mrs Victoria Chinyere, identified the disputed land as Alaoji Isiyi Oduakara.

According to them, they visited the Assembly complex to seek the intervention of lawmakers to halt what they described as encroachment by certain individuals allegedly working in collaboration with persons in government.

They explained that the land in question is used for farming, burial rites, and residential purposes, adding that the community had previously ceded portions of land to government for development projects.

While stressing that they are not opposed to development, the leaders said they expect the legislature to intervene and address what they termed “invasion of our land by individuals and their collaborators.”

“We came to seek the intervention of the House to stop the encroachment by some individuals in collaboration with people in government,” they said.

Responding, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, assured the protesters that the House would look into their complaints to ensure a fair resolution.

Emeruwa, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Augustine Okezie, commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct and pledged that justice and equity would guide the handling of the matter.

“Under the present administration in the state, no individual, group of persons, or community will be denied their rights or dispossessed of their property,” he said.