Alleged forceful takeover of ancestral land: Imo women protest against State Govt

By CHINYERE Nnaemeka

Umuejechi Nekede women, in Owerri, Imo State, took to the streets on a peaceful protest over an allegation of forceful takeover of their ancestral land by the State Government.

The aggrieved women claimed that the Government took the land “despite subsisting court judgments in their favour”.

Adored in all black attire, the women, chanting lamentable songs, displayed placards with varying inscriptions.

Some of the placards read: “Governor Uzodimma, we also have property rights; we can’t be slaves in our home. Governor Uzodimma, please leave our land for us. This is the only land left for us and our children”.

Speaking to newsmen at the scene of the protest, the Assistant Woman Leader, Ndom Umuejechi, Dr. Mrs. Regina Emereonye, cautioned that anarchy would sadly take over, if and wherever the rule of law is jettisoned.

Her words: “We are a very peaceful community, but our peaceful stance to life and living should not be taken for granted by anybody.

“Anarchy, which blows no one any good, ultimately creeps in, anytime and wherever the rule of law is forced to take a flight in any place.

“The land in dispute is our ancestral land. It was leased to the defunct Eastern Region Government before the civil war, for agricultural purposes.

“Since the State Zoological Garden and Wildlife Park, which used to be money spinning tourist centre is moribund, the land ought to revert to the original land owners, in full compliance with the subsisting court judgments, ‘Emereonye stated’.

Also, the community, through their counsel, Mr. U. B. O. Obinna, sent a letter to Governor Hope Uzodimma, warning against continuous trespass into the lands.