By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
The Ifa Ikot Okpon community in Uyo Local Council of Akwa Ibom have slammed a suit of N600 million on the state government over illegal demolition and forceful acquisition of their ancestral land.
This is even as residents of the community have been thrown into tears following the demolition of more than 182 buildings by the state Ministry of Lands and Town Planning in December last year .
Village Head of Ifa Ikot Okpon Etteidung Uwem Udo told newsmen in his palace yesterday that the state government has never acquired land from the community as there was no record in the Ministry of Lands to prove it.
Udo disclosed that owners of the demolished buildings were shocked when a bulldozer brought by Ministry of Lands with security operatives invaded their community on 19 December last year and demolished houses with household valued property inside while some of the owners have gone out for work.
“As we speak now 182 families have no where to live after their houses were demolished.” He said.
He maintained that even if there was such document, the state government would have notified owners of the building on the planned demolition.
“It is known that government takes land for overriding public interest . But in this case what is the public interest here.
The monarch alleged that the state government gave the land to some people who came up with papers claiming portions of the land contrary to claims that the land has been acquired for development and challenged them to produce any document to prove that the community land has been acquired.
“We had five meetings with the past commissioners for Land in the state including the state governor when he was the Commissioner for Land . We asked them to show us documents of the land being taken over by government and evidence of compensation to the land owners but it was not there .
” When Umo Eno was the Commissioner for Lands ,I knew that during one of our meetings we begged him that government should leave the land to owners and he promised that government has withdrawn from the land
” Now I don’t have access to governor Umo Eno, I would have reminded him of the scene in his office. I am pleading him now to come and rescue us from the hands of overzealous officials who have rendered our people homeless.” He explained.
However, victims of the demolished buildings have continued to cry out seeking government intervention in their plight.
One of them identified as Anthony Thomas Ekot 75 years old who had lived in the community for over 30 years adding that he was not at home on the fateful day when heavy equipment destroyed his house.
The case of Kokoette Sunday Eda who is Pastor with the Winners Chapel and Victor Ignatius are more pathetic and touching as his church was not spared while Ignatius was beaten to coma by soldiers and other security operatives monitoring the demolition exercise.
Eda while recounting the sad incident amidst tears said he had lived in the demolished building in the past 40 years but was shocked when government brought down the house few days to Christmas .
” I don’t know what to do now. My family and I are helpless. My consolation is that the governor is a fellow pastor like me . I now live at the mercy of Winners Chapel members in Uyo.”
Another victim is the retired staff of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Charles Bassey who said he travelled to Warri in Delta state when his house was demolished.
Charles who broke in tears explained that there was no indication that the land he bought many years ago belongs to government.
“Before I bought the land , I verified it up to Ministry of Lands and I was not informed that the land is owned by the state government. Now, all my savings and investment throughout my service year is gone in a jiffy.”
Meanwhile ,the community have dragged the state government and its agents to court and demanded for compensation of N600m for the lands and prayed the court to compel government to negotiate through the state Estate Valuers for the buildings demolished and resettle the owners .
In a suit number HC 1/11/451/ 0514 between Etteidung Uwem Tom Udo , Etteidung Edet Effiong Udodong , Etteidung Ime Effiong Akpan and four others vs Hon Commissioner for Lands And Town Planning , Attorney General And Commissioner for Justice, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and The Government of Akwa Ibom state as defendants, the community sought for reliefs in respect of the land and buildings demolished by security operatives.
The case would come up on February 11 for hearing .
