Stakeholders of the Dim-Na-Nume autonomous community, in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, have raised the alarm over what they described as the clandestine move by some unscrupulous elements to take over the community’s choice farmlands at the historic Ikpa Ogbajarajara area.
In a strongly worded statement made available to TheNiche on Friday, the community warned against any such illegal acquisition of the said land for whatever purpose.
The community’s position comes against the backdrop of a recent letter, purportedly from the office of the Commissioner for Lands, Imo State Government, on the intention to acquire the land, which the community has carefully preserved over the years as both residential area for indigenes and subsistence farming.
The statement expressed shock that the alleged land acquisition is being carried out without the knowledge of the traditional ruler of the community as well as the stakeholders of the community.
Declaring the acquisition as illegal, the community has, therefore, warned that those behind the illegal and questionable acquisition of her land and their accomplices to steer clear.
The statement said “it was even more disgraceful that the architects of this daylight robbery were touting the name of our respectable, peace-loving and law-abiding Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, in this clandestine deal.”
It wondered how “some desperate individuals, bent on acquiring the community’s land for selfish ends, could shamelessly be drawing the Governor’s name into disrepute.”
“The public is hereby notified that the Ogbajaraja land in the Dim-Na-Nume community is neither for sale nor for any form of illegal acquisition. Trespassers will be resisted and prosecuted”, the statement concluded.
The statement, which was signed by Elder Azubuike Opuru, Chairman, Aboh Ama Ise community, also has royal blessing and endorsement of HRH Eze Nelson Obasi, Dim II of Dim Na Nume.