POLICE ARREST ALLEGED LAND GRABBING SYNDICATE LEADER IN ANAMBRA

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

Detectives attached to Zone 13, Ukpo, Anambra State, have arrested one Sunday Chukwuemeka, popularly known as Sunny bigman, said to be leader of a syndicate, that specializes in forceful acquisition of lands, expropriation of occupied buildings in Ogwugwu Village, Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

This followed a litany of petitions to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Charge of Zone 13 Ukpo, from the people of Ogwugwu Village, Oba, alleging that land grabbers invaded their community, demolishing assorted buildings, hotels, family houses and causing wanton destruction of economic trees in the area.

A statement by the Assistant Public Relations Officer, Zone 13, Mr. Emmanuel Awah, stated that the Assistant Inspector General of Police ordered a full scale investigation to unravel the identities of the alleged land speculators.

The statement alleged that the suspect was in the habit of parading himself with fake armed uniform men in order to instill fear in his would be victims in the area.

It said that preliminary investigation revealed that some individual owners of the affected structures/residential houses and hotels were asked to pay huge amount of money ranging from N2 million to N20 million or risk demolition.

However, most of them actually made the payment into various bank accounts provided by the suspect.

The statement indicated that Anambra State Government was also irked by the garrulous activities of the syndicate and thereby, raised objection on the same land in a communique dated 7th December, 2022, and signed by Secretary to the state Government, Prof. Solo Chukwudobelu.

On that premise, the AIG hereby, warned other violent grabbers who destroy people’s property with impunity to desist from such or face the punishment as the zone would not shirk its responsibilities of protection of lives and property.

The Zone 13 Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr. Abutu Yaro, equally called on the members of the public, whose property had been demolished “amongst the 70 exotic buildings destroyed and identified so far, worth over 20 billion Naira to come forward with their petitions for consolidation and investigation.”

In the statement, the AIG further appealed to the victims and Oba Community to remain calm as investigation continued.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU