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No fewer than 200 residents of Umuodu village Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Wednesday protested alleged shooting and destruction of farmlands in the community by people of Ezinano village, Awka.
The protesters drawn from over 20 villages of the community, also protested alleged land grabbing, intimidation and humiliation by thugs suspected to be members of the neighbouring community.
The visibly angry protesters stormed the Government House, Awka, carrying placards bearing different inscriptions as ‘Our Farmlands Not for Sale,’ ‘This is Pure Injustice, God is Watching,” ‘Ezinano Awka Invade Our Lands with Thugs, Bulldozers,’ ‘Umuodu Village in Total Danger.’
Leader of the protesters and the village chairman, Nweke Fabian said they resorted to peaceful protest as the only option as they lacked the power to fight back, appealing to Gov. Willie Obiano to intervene.
“We have lost several hectares of land to the community. There are shooting all over the place, they’re terrorising us. That’s the reason why we’re here to let our governor know what we’re going through.
“They have intimidated us; they have humiliated us; they have pushed us to the wall. Our children have no future, no place to live; our stream has been destroyed by Ezinano.
“Since four days, they have been terrorising us with gun. One of our brothers, Daniel who went to his farm yesterday with his wife was beaten by the thugs.
“Ezinano community claimed the land was given to them by their forefathers, but there’s judgement already on the land by African Court of Appeal since 1943,” he said.
Addressing the protesters, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu however asked them to select representatives to meet with the deputy governor who is in charge of boundary disputes.
He commended them for their peaceful disposition, assuring them of amicable resolution of the crises.