Over 100 indigenes of Awka, comprising men, women and youth under the auspices of Ezinano, Friday, shutdown expressways and streets to protest alleged attempts by Anambra state Police command to take away their community land.
The protesters, who hail from 20 out of 33 villages in Awka, including Amikwo, Eziawka, Agulu and Umuokpu blocs, blocked Awka axis of Enugu/Onistha expressway for about an hour, bearing placards of different inscriptions, some of which read, ‘Police stay away from our fathers land’, ‘Police go for security not our land’, and so on.
The youth president of Ezinano, Mr. Tochukwu Nwosu, while addressing the media, alleged that some of the communities laying claim to the land had reportedly contracted the police to construct a post (station) on the land as well as develop it as estate for the contenders.
Nwosu further maintained that the land under contention is part of those they share boundary with Enugwu-Agidi, Nawfia, Isuaniocha and Okpuno, adding that they had contracted some contractors to develop the property only for the police to chase them away without explanation.
“The land is owned by Ezinano community comprising 5 villages in Amikwo, 7 villages in Eziawka, 7 villages in Aguluawka and one village of Umuokpu. We have a boundary with Okpuno (Awka South LGA), Nawfia and Enugwu-Agidi (Njikoka LGA). We learnt that the police want to construct a police post at the place and to help one of the communities in developing a part as an estate.
“That is why we are kicking against it. We don’t need a police post on it. We have our own developers but police chased the contractors away, seized thier properties and so on. This land belong to us. We have been to court with Enugwu-Agidi and won. We have been to court with Isuaniocha and Okpuno and won. We are currently at Supreme Court. We want the police to stay clear of the land,” he added.
But addressing the protesters at state police command headquarters in Amawbia, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Aderemi Adeoye, denied involvement of the force in any land matter, explaining that they were only trying to stop breach of law and order.
