Abia community protests alleged land-grabbing
Scores of Senior citizens from Ndi Ememe Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State yesterday protested at Government House in Umuahia after staging an initial protest in their community over alleged intimidation, trespass and landgrabbing by the neighbouring Idiama Community.
Spokesman for the protesting community and the town’s union chairman, Mr Awake Bernard, implored the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, to intervene and save them from further harassment as the opposing community has given them till 31st December 2019 to vacate the land they have beenoccupying for generations.
They said the Idiama community, who regarded them as strangers on the land, had threatened to force them to pay tax on the land if they failed to vacate by the deadline.
The spokesman further alleged that the Idiama community were threatening to forcefully eject them from the area if they failed to comply with the options .
He said the problem started in 1953 when Idiama community forced themselves into the area and started claiming ownership of the land.
This, he said led to Ndi Ememe suing Idiama people at a Native Authority Court of Abam in 1953 and in 1956 the matter was determined and judgement was given in favour of Ndi Ememe Abam.
He said over the years Idiama community had dominated the area and decided to come up with another claim of ownership of the landignoring the earlier court verdict.
According to the spokesman the Ndi Ememe Abam community have reported the matter to state’s Boundary Adjustment Organization for its intervention.
They therefore appealed to the Deputy Governor to intervene in the matter to save them from harassments.