Land encroachment targeted at impoverishing us - Anambra community laments 1
South East

Land encroachment targeted at impoverishing us – Anambra community laments

People of Ifite Umueri community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state on Monday protested alleged encroachment into their land by the state government.

The community had donated portion of its land to the State government for Cargo Airport, but alleged that the government had gone beyond the allocated portion.

The protesting three communities of Umuopu, Enuagu and Umuina Ifite Umueri, who made borne fires and blocked the road with placards to the Airport, described government action as deliberate attempt to impoverish the people of the area who were predominantly farmers.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “We can’t be refugees and IDPs in our own land, Obiano leave our land for us; “We’re farmers why collect our land to build housing estate; “Anambra State government go to the portion of land given for the airport.”

Addressing newsmen shortly after the protest, Chairman of Ifite Umueri Community, Chief Uchenna Ndumuanya claimed they gave the government 729.60 hectares of land for the airport project, but regretted that it has taken over 1901 hectares of the land.

He lamented government adamancy on taking their land without consultations despite letters written to its officials, members of the National Assembly, Senators from the three Zones of the state and members of the House of Representatives to complain against the encroachment.

He said, “We want to believe that the encroachment is not only to impoverish our people by Willie Obiano-led government but an extension on the old acrimony between the Aguleri and Umueri communities, some people are still engaged in that fight.

“If it is not an extension of the fight between Umueri and Aguleri, why will a community give 729.60 hectares of land and the government has taken 1901 hectares of land and they were reminded with protests yet they ignored us.

“Now they have abandoned the major road to the airport, which is through Umueri road, and developing the Nteje road they connected to the Airport, the airport is in Umueri, but you cannot see any thing to indicate that the project is Umueri.

“Governor Obiano and his Commissioner for Works, Mr Marcel Ifejiofor knows what they are doing, they want to make us refugees in our land.”

Photographs:

Picture 1 shows some members of Ifite Umueri community blocking the Umueri road to the Anambra Cargo Airport.

Pic 2 shows the of the borne fires made by the the community during the protest.

Pic 3 shows some members of Ifite Umueri community blocking the Umueri road to the Anambra Cargo Airport.

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