ENUGU — The Enugu State House of Assembly member representing Aninri Constituency, Chinedu Okwu, in a petition submitted to the House on Thursday called on the State Government to intervene and stop the invasion and destruction of houses and farmlands in his constituency.
Okwu, in the petition, stated that land grabbers from Uburu, Akaeze and Ishiagu communities all in Ebonyi State are laying claims on some part of Aninri land; their claims he said lacks substance given the obvious boundary features.
“We complain in tears, about the unwarranted invasion, killing and maiming of our people by these communities”, Okwu reiterated.
The three communities situated in two local government areas in Ebonyi State shares common boundary with Aninri, Enugu State; Uburu, Akaeze in Ohaozara LGA and Ishiagu in Ivo LGA.
The renewed claims of ownership heightened as David Umahi their kinsman assumed office of the Governor, Ebonyi State.
“Initially, they were making individual claims of ownership of different parts of our land but now, they claim and act for and on behalf of Ebonyi State Government.
“Tractors with the inscription, ‘Ebonyi State Government’ entered our farms destroying our cassava, yam and rice; the destroyed farmland spanned about 100 hectares and the popular Egu-Nkwo deforested. Egu Nkwo for years has been the major source of our timber business”, he said.
The lawmaker further alleged that Ebonyi State Government has entered into agreement with a Chinese company for mining of Lead and Silicon deposits in the land under dispute.
Hence the Ebonyi State Government is now enjoying the revenue accruable from the mining activities on our land;
Okwu laments, “our people are in pain and helpless; the pains of another State driving us out of our land and taking over our source of livelihood is unbearable and so we call on the State Government to mediate in this matter”.
Reacting, the Speaker of the House, Edward Ubosi urged the Enugu State Deputy Governor, Cecilia Ezeilo to dialogue with her Ebonyi State counterpart, Eric Kelechi Igwe to resolve the land encroachment issue amicably.
The House thereafter adjourned to Thursday, June 11, 2020.
