The indigenes of Umuoyima community in the Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State have protested the illegal takeover of their ancestral land called Ugwumiri Okpo Umuoyima Otamiri river green belt.
Protesting at the now contentious parcels of lands, the natives who carried placards with various inscriptions to buttress their anger, accused CODUC construction company that is executing some of the state government’s projects of allegedly confiscating the said land.
They contended that despite the state government allocation of the plots to them in 2021, the construction company had defiled the state government approval of the land to them and had deprived the Umuoyima indigenes the right to possess their ancestral land.
The enraged indigenes called on the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, to order the CODUC construction company to stop further trespasses into their lands.
They displayed a letter dated February 24, 2021, issued by the state ministry of lands, survey and physical planning, conveying the commissioner’s approval for the variation of the said land into residential plots for them.
The letter which was written by TPL M.K Nnaji, head, planning and open spaces department of the ministry and addressed to Nze Ucheoma and Godwin families of Umuoyima community, reads in part “I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and convey the approval of the honourable commissioner, Hon Enyinnaya Onuegbu, for the variation of part of the Green belt ( Os/2) in Umuoyima South pocket layout, Owerri into residential use.
“Your new plot numbers are plots 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140 and 141. The attached print copy of the layout plan will serve as a guide in the future development of the plots.
“You ensure that you liaise with the office of the Director of lands for the processing of Certificate of Occupancies in respect of plots 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140 and 141 Umuoyima, South pocket layout Owerri town for proper documentations and necessary actions.”
They contended that the said land is the only remaining ancestral land they have, calling on the governor to prevail on the CODUC construction company to leave their land for them.