Over 150 Buildings Destroyed As Anambra Community, Landlords Clash
No fewer than 150 uncompleted buildings were allegedly destroyed by land owners in Okuzu Akamili / Ilalo, in Okuzu community, Oba, ldemili South Local Government Area Anambra State.
The structures, belonging to members of Udodimma Estate Landlords Association, were allegedly pulled down following dispute arising from the land the structures were situated.
Addressing newsmen on Sunday, President General of Landlord Association, Mr Frederick Chukwu, claimed they bought the land from some elders and youths of the community without knowledge of any dispute surrounding it.
He called for the intervention of Governor, Willlie Obiano, just as he sued for peace among the community members to ensure the construction continued unhindered.
He said: “We bought the land from village people and nobody told us that the land was in contention or any kind of dispute, neither did anybody come to disturb us since seven years ago we bought it and started building.
“We were surprised that some people from Okuzu Mbana community, particularly a very rich man from the community, sponsored the destruction of our houses making us incur losses of over N1 billion on the over 150 ongoing buildings constructions.”
Reacting, Chairman of Okuzu Mbana village, Mr. Chino Anachuna, denied knowledge of the landlord association, saying there was no time they sold land to anybody, which he referred to as their kindred farmland.
“Okuzu village has three kindred, namely Okuzu Umuezeokpala, Okuzu Unuezeagbaogu and Okuzu Mbana, and the land in question is owned by Okuzu Mbana, which has Akamili and Ilalo as hamlets, our land is not for sale. They should go and meet the people they claimed to have sold land to them, we don’t know them.
“The people claiming to be members of the landlord association knew they were in the wrong hands, but were assured of protection by the people who were illegally selling lands to them.
“We were shouting that time, but they connived with the people selling land to them to beat and use dangerous weapons against our people, because they compromised all security agents that could come for them.”
