The land owners of Community Secondary School (CSS), Erema in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area have threatened to reclaim their lands if the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities did not address their grievances.

The Landlords – Umu-Orukwoela family of Erema said their magnanimity in donating the land had not been reciprocated because no employment opportunity had been giving to them since their good gestures.

Last week students and teachers were barred from entering the school’s premises by the family thereby disrupting academic activities.

The school’s main gate was not only padlocked the protesting family also mounted a canopy at the main entrance.

The students and teachers after milling around for over three hours left for their different homes disappointed.

However, at about 10.30 am, the family backed down following the appeals of the Erema Community Development Chairman, Mr Onyekachi Umah, the Principal of the Senior Secondary section of the school, Mr Emmanuel Oriekwo and some other concerned members of the community.

Speaking to The Tide, spokesman of the family, Mr Ogwe Elenwa said the land measuring more than 40 acres was donated to state government, with hope that the family would be giving preference in employment of junior staff.

According to Elenwa, since late 70s when the vast farm land was giving out, nobody from the family had been giving the opportunity to work their, saying that even a delegation led by one Elijah Ezi to the Local Government Education Authority did not produce any results.

He expressed disappointment that despite series of letters and delegations to both the Schools Board and Ministry of Education, nothing had been done to address their demand, but instead, last year some junior staff were employed in the school without consideration for any members of his family.

“Since we have been neglected, we want our land back”, saying that the family has resolved to continue the protest until their demands are met.

Speaking to The Tide earlier, Mr Emmanuel Oriekwo, principal of the senior secondary section, expressed concern that the actions of the landlords may affect the students performance in attending to classes.

Mr  Oriekwo, said in a meeting had with the delegations of the family, they were advised to ask those who are qualified to apply for job since there is announcement to that effect by the state government.

“I have no power to employ any person, only the board can employ,” he said, but the Education Secretary in charge of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government, Mr Israel Brown, said he had already promised the family, that he would forward their demands to the relevant authorities, wondering why they could not exercise patience to allow him pursue their case in a civilised manner.