The people of Egwe autonomous community in Oguta LGA of Imo State have staged a protest rejecting what they described as an unlawful encroachment and forceful takeover of their ancestral land by the local council.
The protest followed a public notice issued by the Oguta Local Council Authority, through the chairman of the Committee on Land Recovery, Nwamkpa Modestus, restraining the community from entering and making use of the land.
The land was formerly designated as Oruru-Government Station Layout during the administration of former governor of the state, Sam Mbakwe. The planned layout was, however, not implemented.
The public notice further directed that individuals who own land in the particular area should come to the local government council headquarters with their original documents for verification.
Speaking with our correspondent, the land Committee Chairman of the Community, Mr. Vitus Onwudiwe said the land in question was only designated to be used as station layout but the plan was not implemented.
He maintained that there are no documents available to the government to back up its claim of ownership of the land.
“Where is government survey plan and documentation of this said land?
Who and who signed and handed over this said land to government and under which conditions was it signed?” He asked.
Onwudiwe further asked if there was any perimeter survey inorder to ascertain how many hectares of land was involved and if there was any MoU or written agreement between the government, the community and individual landowners.
Onwudiwe, alongside Egwe Progressive Union, EPU, hinted that the owners have been making use of that particular land without any hindrance until the recent publication purportedly issued from the local council authority.
He further maintained that the community, as stakeholders, should be in the know of whatever is being discussed about the land, rather than being taken unaware.
Onwudiwe avowed that the community will take every necessary action within the law to resist attempts by any person or group trying to takeover their land in the guise of government.
He accused the local government authority of trying to use the name of the state government to take their land for personal interest.
“If government is interested in taking our land for the general wellbeing of the people, there is nothing wrong about it, but due process must be followed and the host community must have MOU with genuine government officials from the Ministry of Lands,” he said.
He disclosed that the community, through their lawyer, has written to Governor Hope Uzodinma, the State Ministry of Lands and the State Housing Corporation, informing them of what they described as an abnormal development.
Imo community rejects local council’s moves to takeover communal land
