INVASION AND DESTRUCTION OF FARMLANDS AND ECONOMIC TREES IN NIBO COMMUNITY – call for govt. Intervention
Farmers and stakeholders in Nibo community in Awka South local government area of Anambra State have appealed to Federal and state governments to urgently come to their rescue by constituting joint boundary committee to look into an ongoing land dispute between them and Awka Community.
They noted that the call followed the destruction of farmlands and economic trees by some youths alleged to be from their neighboring Awka community. There have been increasing communal clashes between various communities in Anambra state occasioned by boundary disputes and land matters.
The situation had led to loss of lives and destruction of farm crops. Some houses were equally set ablaze. This, according to the people of Nibo, prompted the call for urgent government intervention in the recent invasion and destruction of their ancestral lands by some youths said to be from Awka community.
The traditional ruler of the Nibo, Igwe Micheal Ngene who described the incident as very unfortunate, said they had written series of letters to concerned authorities but were yet to get the needed attention. Igwe Ngene however acknowledged that the Inspector General of Police had sent a fact finding team to the community but appealed that the outcome of the visit be made public.
Two farmers the area, Chief Keneth Aniemena and Mrs Adaobi Ekwunife, regretted that farm crops including palm trees, plantain, cassava, yam among others were destroyed with bulldozer, leaving them in a helpless condition.
The Deputy President General of the community, Deacon Bertram Anene and another farmer, Mrs Ifeyinwa Eke, appealed to the federal ministry of Agriculture to also come to their aid with crops and food as their only means of surviving had been destroyed.
In an interview, the Chairman, Caretaker committee for Awka community, Mr Chike Obuekwe who disclosed that the matter was before the supreme court, called on the villages involved to sheath their sword to enable stakeholders look into it. The greatest desire of the people of Ifite Nibo village and the entire community is that the boundary committees will urgently address the situation to enable farmers in the area goes back to their agricultural business, to prevent the imminent hunger.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent, , reports that the people also pleaded with the Inspector General of Police, to promptly intervene in the matter to prevent actions that could lead to Communal Crises in the area.
UCHE NDEKE