Protests Trail Ebonyi Govt’s Plan To Take Over Community Land

Amuzu community in
Ezza Local Government Area of Ebonyi State recently witnessed protests resulting from plans by the state government to take over land running into hectares belonging to the community.
The angry villagers made up of youths, aged men and women, were seen in their hundreds protesting in the premises of the community secondary school in the area where the caretaker chairman of the local government, Mr Joseph Egede had invited them for the peace talk.
Prior to the protest, sources told our correspondent that Egede had explained to the aggrieved villagers that the plan by government to take over the management of the land was in the interest of the owners and the entire community; an explanation that was rebuffed by the crowd in unison.
The villagers insisted that they were not ready to part with their lands as government had in the past taken most of their lands without compensation.
They accused the Local Government Chairman, Egede, and their traditional ruler, Eze John Aloke of working against the interest of the people of the community.
Efforts by the local government chairman and a handful of other stakeholders to calm down the angry villagers were in vain as their voice overwhelmed the gathering.