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By Madu Obi
Hundreds of people, including women and youths, from Ezinano Community in Awka South local government area took to the streets of the Anambra State capital on Thursday to protest alleged connivance of the state police command with its neighbouring community of Enugwu Agidi to forcefully acquire its ancestral land.
But the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye denied the allegation, informing the protesters that the police was not interested in their land and advised them to wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court where the matter has been taken to.
Displaying placards with various inscriptions, the protesters marched to the police headquarters at Amawbia where they blocked the gate and urged the police to desist from alleged support to those laying claim to their land.
According to them, the said neighbouring community had ceded part of their land to the police for a police post without recourse to the 20 villages from the four quarters that make up Ezinano who own the land.
Some of the placards read; "Ezinano land doesn't need police post", "Police don't take sides on this matter"; and "Police face security, not our land".
Speaking on their behalf, the chairman of Ezinano youths, Tochukwu Nwosu said they decided to protest because of the silence of both the government and police command to their plight after the several letters they wrote were not responded to.
He said: "We are people from 20 villages comprising Amikwo(5 villages), Ezioka (7villages), Agu (7villages) and Umuokpu (1). We have boundaries with Enugu Agidi, Okpuno and others.
"We inherited this land from our fore-fathers and we have been planting on that land without any issue with anyone over the years."
"Recently we gave out the land to a contractor to develop for us and make returns to us. We also gave out the land to some people to cultivate, but they started laying claim to the land."
"It is on record that they took us to the High Court in 1961 and we won. They also went to the Court of Appeal and we also won. We are presently at the Supreme Court and we are surprised that they are using the police to chase us away."
"We pleaded with them to wait for court to decide, but they refused and keep chasing our contractor away, and even arresting some of the workers."
"We have written several letters to government and police, but no response. That is why we decided to embark on this peaceful demonstration."
"We are here to register our displeasure and requesting that police should stay away from our land. We heard that the police was asked to use the land for estate and police post which we are objecting to."
Nwosu commended his people for being peaceful even in the face of provocation.
Responding, CP Adeoye commended them for their peaceful disposition, assuring of amicable resolution of the matter.
He said: "On this matter between you and Enugu Agidi Community, it is possible that there is communication gap because when we got the information, we visited the area, but gunmen opened fire on us."
"Fortunately no policeman died, but his pistol was seized. I had to give them ultimatum to return the gun which they did. Those who opened fire on the police were charged to court."
"We invited both communities to come, but while the people of Enugu Agidi came, nobody from your community came. Besides, the letters you wrote to us have no telephone numbers and so we couldn't hear from you to make informed decisions."
"We have got two correspondences from your lawyer and community which indicated that the matter is at the Supreme Court. But we are going to follow due process and ensure that no community is deprived of its inheritance."
"On the issue of siting a police post on the land, we felt it is for the benefit of both communities because it will help to ward off gunmen from the area for the safety of all."
However, we had to order for the project to be suspended when Ezinano people opposed it.
"Police is not interested in your land and no attempt is being made to take over any community land. We are here to serve the public and we won't take sides with any party."
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