Urum Community in Anambra Laments Destruction Of Livelihood By Realtor
The people of Urum Community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra have lamented the destruction of economic trees and farmland in Ochiokwa area by an estate developer.
The people of Urum including aged men, women and youths trooped out in their numbers who converged on the land screamed against what they described as total economic destruction of livelihood at a time that the government is preaching agriculture and encouraging farming activities.
Elders of Urum and leadership of Urum town who decried the destruction of their economic trees and farmland have called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to as a matter of urgency call the developer, Nwaguatahihia to order.
They said this would forestall a breakdown of law and order in the peaceful agrarian town.
They said farmlands being prepared for farming activities this season were also destroyed when the developer invaded Ochiokwa forest without any legal backing.
The elders were gathered at the parcel of Land called Ochiokwa with a view to meeting with a developer, Nwaguatahihia who claimed he bought land from some persons in the Community.
Speaking on their behalf, Mr Felix Ifebumma, the President General of Urum said they had resolved that the developer and those who allegedly sold the land to him would be present at Ochiokwa to substantiate their claim to the land.
Ifebumma regretted that the original owners of the land appeared in their numbers with youths of the community but both the developer and the alleged sellers did not show up , confirming that they were fraudsters parading as land owners.
“Despite all the warnings and efforts, the developer had gone ahead to bulldoze economic trees worth over N1 billion,” he said.
Two indigenes of Urum,Chief Godwin Onyibo and Mr Lawrence Anowai who m showing their portions on the land, said there was no plan to sell it to any developer as it was their inheritance.
Also speaking, Leonard Eze from Umude Clan, Akitinyi village and Mr Patrick Okolo from Ifiteora Village, wondered how a developer could come into a community to buy land from few youths rather than asking for proper guidance and direction from the original owners of such land.
Chief Edwin Okafor , Chief Wilfred Jideuno and Mr Chukwuemeka Nwoye therefore appealed to the relevant authorities in the state to come to their rescue by calling the developer to order.
The respondents unanimously reiterated that the Ochiokwa land was for farming activities and not for sell for any reason as it was being reserved for their upcoming children.
According to them,the continued activities and invasion of Urum by Nwaguatahihia if not put on check by the relevant government authorities poses great danger to the entire community.
They also used the medium to commend Soludo for his developmental strides so fast across the state promising to keep supporting his administration to make Anambra a liveable prosperous homeland.
In a reaction, Chief Okechukwu Kingsley Chukwueme (Nwaguatahihia ) Properties told journalists that he bought the Ochiokwa land from the rightful owners in Urum contrary to speculations.
Okechukwu the developer, said the land was properly documented and due process followed in acquiring it from the people.
High Chief Chukwueme explained that five Indigenes of the community who owns the land unanimously sold it to him with the traditional ruler of the community as a witness.
