By Ifeizu Joe
Indigenes of Enugwu-Agidi community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have cried out over alleged siege being laid on their land by operatives of Nigeria Air Force, acting on the instruction of a real estate company.
The indigenes who inspected parts of their land which they said are currently under occupation called on the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to come to their aid.
The President General of the community, Chief Pius Nwankwo and his Vice, Emeka Ementa, alongside other members of their executive and the community recently went round to inspect the seized portions, insisting that despite an order by the executive banking earth moving equipment into their land, tractors owned by one Marc Benito Ozigbo, a native of Enugwu Ukwu and the proprietor of Green Gardens Limited was still in their land working, and being shielded by operatives of NAF.
An indigene of the community, Prince (Dr.) Chinedu Ikeanyi in a statement on behalf of the community cried that the community was now under siege.
He said: “Enugwu-Agidi is under siege by Nigeria military men brought into our town by one Marc Benito Ozigbo, a native of Enugwu Ukwu and the proprietor of Green Gardens Limited.
“Ozigbo is using a team of uniformed, armed military men to intimidate the indigenes of Enugwu-Agidi. He has destroyed our farm lands, economic trees, and deprived our people access to farm their ancestral lands.
“Specifically, Green Gardens Limited, a company allegedly owned by Marc Benito Ozigbo, grabbed over 150 plots of Enugwu-Agidi lands located at Ezionugo neighborhood which is close to the boundary of Enugwu-Agidi and Nawgu town.
“Ozigbo has stationed a team of Nigeria Military men on the lands to maintain a round-the-clock watch. If those lands were rightfully and legally purchased from the community, why would Ozigbo station armed military men on the lands?
“We appeal to Governor Soludo to investigate and intervene in this looming crisis before the community resorts to self-help which could lead to a complete breakdown of law and order.”
He claimed that about two years ago, Ozigbo, working with some notorious land grabbers and village hoodlums invaded Enugwu-Agidi farmlands, hijacked over 150 plots of land, and claimed to be building an estate for the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).
“A signboard with an inscription, “Military Zone Keep Off” has been erected in front of the lands. The investigation conducted by the leadership of Enugwu-Agidi community revealed that no branch of the Military has contacted them with any information about any military project in our town.
“This has led the community to assume that someone is using the good name of the Nigerian Military in vain to grab Enugwu-Agidi lands,” he added.
He said the land grabbing problem in the community was exacerbated by the election of Chukwuemeka David Onuorah in 2022 as the President-General of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU) Nigeria, who worsened the land crisis in Enugwu-Agidi and facilitated and enabled land grabbing as a major participant in the operation.
Ikeanyi said inquiries from the Nigerian Army 82 Division Enugu and Onitsha Military Cantonment (302 Artillery Regiment) did not reveal any association between the Nigerian Military and the illegal estate in Enugwu-Agidi, leaving the question -who is using the good name of the Nigerian Military in vain? Or whether the military men at Ezionogu, Enugwu-Agidi were on illegal duty.
He concluded: “We humbly call on Governor Soludo to intervene in this matter and investigate the deployment of Nigerian Military to communal lands by a private citizen, Chief Marc Benito Ozigbo. Time is of the essence.
“The law-abiding citizens of Enugwu-Agidi are running out of patience and may soon result to self-help which will lead to a complete breakdown of law and order.”
Investigation however showed that the developers under the name Green Gardens Limited had earlier advertised the land, claiming to acquire it for the construction of 80 duplexes, under the name NAF Green Garden Estate.
Attempts to reach the developers for further reactions failed as a phone number atta he’s to one of its adverts failed to connect.
