Awka Indigenes Urge IG to Order Police Operatives Out of Disputed Land

David-Chyddy Eleke in  Awka

Indigenes of Awka community, especially from Ezinano area have protested the deployment of police operatives to their land in Agu Nawgu.

The indigenes called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, to order the operatives out of their land, saying that the deployment has stalled development of property on the land.

The indigenes recently marched in their numbers to inspect the land but were stopped by police operatives who insisted they had orders not to let anyone into the disputed land. The operatives also released gunshots to scare the indigenes.

A prominent son of the community, Chief Kanayo Obidigbo, who joined other indigenes on the inspection, accused police authorities in Anambra State of being responsible for the deployment, saying they have displayed manifest interest in the matter, therefore lack neutrality. 

Addressing journalists, Obidigbo said: “We are here to inspect Agu Nawgu. This is a land that our great grandparents won in conquest. It is a vast land of about 60 kilometres radius. We grew up to know this land and it has a survey plan of 1949, made by our fathers who were illiterate.

“They gave out the land to Enugwu-Agidi people on rent to be cultivating but later our forefathers sent them packing when they stopped paying rent.

“What we are saying is that police presence on our land is unacceptable. The men were sent here by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, whose interest we do not know.

“They have stalled development on this site. I have a building here, but I can’t continue with work because police have occupied the whole place and are shooting at us. 

“We pray the IG to investigate the police and make them withdraw operatives from that land.”