The Ochimba/Paramount Ruler of Elele Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Innocent Anaemeje, has called for government intervention to save the local government from incessant land grabbing activities.
He said this while conducting newsmen round a land called in Etche language as “uzor Mmiri Umuajaka”, which, he said, was sold by their fathers to Hydrotech and famap Nigeria limited, but now under threat by activities of land grabbers.
He also said land grabbing is fast becoming a cult in Etcheland and must be put to a hold immediately to avoid crisis.
Eze Anaemeje said the land in question was sold by their fathers to Hydrotech and famap Nigeria limited, an agrobased company, by their fathers since 1984.
He said the company, which was into agriculture, operated for some time in the area before pulling out and assigned some one to take care of the land.
The Traditional Ruler said since the land was already sold by their fathers to the companies, the community does not have any right over it.
Eze Anaemeje said land grabbers are now selling portions of the land to unsuspecting members of the public.
He also said the company’s warehouses situated in the land was destroyed by the land grabbers, adding even his life is being threatened.
The traditiona ruler said he has already warned the public against buying plots of lands in the area.
He stressed the need for the government to come into the matter as his life and that of his chiefs are under threat.
According to him, the matter was reported to Ozuzu Police Station, but the police has done nothing about it.
He warned members of the public not to buy land from anyone in the area as the land has been sold.
Affirming the traditional ruler’s position, the Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), Umuajaka Elele, Mr peter Onuegbu, said those claiming the land are illegally doing so, as Hydrotech and famap Nigeria limited have all the documents, including customary right of Occupancy as far as the land was concerned.
The CDC Chairman called for Government intervention to save the community from crisis.
On his part, a traditional ruler in the Community, Eze Aba Nnodim, called for urgent Government intervention in the matter.
Nnodim said the community cannot take back the land since it has already been sold by their fathers, adding that all of them benefitted from the proceeds of the land.
He also warned land buyers against buying any plot of land in the area.
Also speaking, Eze Onuegbu Chukwuma said the community cannot fold it’s hands and allow people take away what does not belong to them
He also called on the government to come into the matter to save the community from crisis.
One of the managers of the companies, Mr Ndubuisi Omaguluchi, said the land was bought by the companies as far back as 1984.
He said the company has all the necessary documents including an injunction from a competent court of jurisdiction relating to ownership of the land.
According to him, the land stretches from Umuajaka to Abara behind the campus of the Rivers State University.
Omaguluchi said the situation has been reported to the police both at Ozuzu and Okehi, including state Criminal investigation Department.
He expressed regret that despite the court injunction people are still selling and buying the land.
Omaguluchi, who spoke onbehalf of the management of the companies, urged Government to intervene in the matter to save the community from crisis.

By: John Bibor