Reactions Trail Sacking of 50 families in Anambra
No fewer than 50 families have been sacked by the people of Umuezegbuta village at Ezele Mbana village, all in Oba, Idemili South local government area, Anambra state.
The incident, which was sequel to an Ogidi High court judgment obtained by Umuezegbuta (plaintiffs) against Ezele Mbana, (defendants) had resulted in the destruction of properties estimated into millions of naira by the plaintiffs, who stormed Ezele Mbana village with caterpillars and bulldozers, destroying over 20 houses and rendering 50 families homeless.
Reacting, the people of Ezele Mbana said they have lived in the land over 400 years ego and expressed surprise that the court would give such a verdict at this jet age, when they have no alternative place to go as indigenes of Oba.
“This destruction of residential buildings occurred on 3rd of August, 2020”, said Mr. Augustine Iloanope, former chairman of Ezele Mbana village.
According to him, “We have lived in the land over 400 years ago, and our village and Umuezegbuta village had been in court for a long time”, alleging that Umuezegbuta attacked them because they had court judgment in their favour.
Mr. Ejikeme Christian, 78 years old man, lamented that his house was pulled down because he refused to accept money and vacate his house, alleging that Umuezegbuta invaded them with thugs.
In their reactions, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyebuchi, Mr. Uchenna and Mrs. Omoleogo Maduemezie explained that Umuezegbuta rendered them homeless in a land they have lived over 500 years.
The president general of Isu Welfare Association, Oba, Hon. Ubadi Osita, affirmed that the disputed land where Ezele Mbana is occupying belongs to Isu village in general; not only Umuezegbuta; stating that those who destroyed the buildings of Ezele Mbana were Umuezegbuta, a section of Isu, on the ground that Ezele Mbana are tenants in their land and they have obtained court judgment against them.
Osita, however, explained that Isu village in general was against the action of Umuezegbuta, even as he hinted that Isu in general, through their counsel, Chief J.O Nso, filed appeal and served them to stop the court judgment before they attacked Ezele Mbana.
He equally revealed that they have written to the commissioner of police as regards the action of Umuezegbuta, vowing to follow it up.
Chief J.O. Nso, who is the counsel to Ezele Mbana and Isu village, told newsmen that Umuezegbuta defeated Ezele Mbana village in the court over the land dispute, but that two appeals are pending against the judgment.
According to him, “Umuezegbuta village did everything in a hurry. They did not do what court asked them to do. No court would execute order to destroy people’s building with caterpillar.
“What they were supposed to do was to ribbon the whole places instead of pulling down people’s buildings with caterpillar”.
Chief Nso added further that he has written to the commissioner of police for prompt intervention.
Efforts to reach the Umuezegbuta chairman, Mr. Ajumora, (a..k.a. Mashal) to react, proved abortive.
