Security Operatives Storm Anambra Community To Halt Protest

EKO HOT BLOG reports that over 100 security operatives have taken over Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria to prevent a protest by community youths against the sale of communal land.

The youths had gathered to express their displeasure over the activities of a few rich people in the community who they accused of selling communal land without due authorization.

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The security operatives, fully armed and hooded, stopped the protesters from marching around the community with their placards and insisted that they did not receive clearance from the police to hold any protest.

According to the protesters, they received clearance to hold the protest, and it was against the sale of a large parcel of land in the community, known as Ana Ama.

Some of the placards read: “Ana Owa is not for sale,” “Stop selling off our inheritance,” and “You are supposed to be protecting us, not selling our property.”

Chux Okonkwo, a Lagos-based legal practitioner and former chairman of Nimo Town Development Union, Lagos branch, who participated in the protest, accused some powerful leaders in the community of being responsible for the sale of communal lands but did not name them.

The protesters claimed that the vast expanse of land, known as Ana Owa, which was acquired by conquest during a war many decades ago, is being sold off today by some people in the community without proper authorization.

They also alleged that those behind the sale of the land claimed to have realized N900 million from sales, and that they have spent N1.2 billion, with no proper account of what they did with the funds.

Leader of the protesting youths, Mr. Chigbo Aniedobe, told journalists that the elements in the community have changed the name of the land from Ana Owa to Obodo Oma Estate and have put a price tag of N3.1 million on a plot.

“We are not ready to fight anyone; we are not going to make trouble, but this protest is for the government to hear our cry and come to our aid. At least, posterity will vindicate us that we spoke up when this was happening,” Aniedobe said.

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The security operatives insisted that the protest should be shelved for a later date, while the protesters carried placards displaying their grievances despite being stopped from marching.