From Ifeoma Ejiofor
A large number of women from Nimo community in Njikoka LGA of the state yesterday stormed the Anambra State Headquarters of Nigerian Police Force, asking for protection.
Nimo is currently polarized over a land tussle the women claims to have been fraudulent taken over by traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Maxi Ike Iliobi, the President General of the town and some members of the Igwe’s cabinet.
Mrs. Ebele Okochi, the spokesperson for the women while speaking to journalists shortly after summiting their protest letter to the police authorities, said they were at the Command Headquarters to seek protection from the Nigeria Police as they couldn’t longer sleep in their houses with their two eyes closed for fear of the unknown.
Mrs Okochi said that the community is presently embroiled in crises and that the cause of the crises are mult-tentacle but stem largely from; administrative incompetence of the President General, Mr. Ekenenna Okafor-Omabor, sale of Nimo land by the PG and the Traditioner ruler, Igwe Maxi Ike Iliobi, high-handedness and trampling of the fundamental right of the town folks among several others.
“Our people are being arrested and torture on daily basis while in handcuffs. Vigilante operatives are used as a private army of the Igwe to harrass, seize properties of individual. Our people are being arrested for the flimsiest excuses and handed over to the police where they they spend money to bail themselves.
“The Igwe purportedly negotiated with our neighbouring town of Eziowelle Community and ceded about 264 plots of land owned by individuals without the consent and knowledge of the land owners. The Igwe did this because he believes that as the Igwe, he can take over people’s land and do whatever he pleases with it. This to our view, is high-handedness and an abuse of trust by the Monarch.
“As a result of the illegal land transactions, the youths of Nimo Community whose families depend on these lands for their survival and sustenance are highly provoked. This has largely been the cause of the crisis in Nimo, which has not abated since January 2023.
“The crisis is getting worse because rather than retrace their steps and stop selling of the land, both the PG and Igwe have resorted to writing frivolous petitions against those who opposed sales of the land. The frame people as kidnappers, cultists, arsonist, confusionist, etc.
“We don’t longer go to the farm because all boundaries land has sold off. The little farm lands we are farming, the Igwe and his faction has forcefully collected it from us again. We are no longer allow to go to our farms. This year, we did not get corn, cassava, palm oil because he has seize all the community land to himself. That man (Igwe) has sold more 200 plots land at the rate of 3.1 million each.
“In the past four months, we have joined the growing number of those campaigning about the sales of the land by the Monarch and the President General.
“To further consolidate their sales of the land, the PG issue a written public notice to the effect that people are not allowed to go to their farms. The directive, which seeks to stop farming activities is a breach of people fundamental right. Sir, if we continue to tell you what has been happening in Nimo in the past three years, you will think that we are telling fairy stories from some strange story books, yet the atrocities and impunities by the leadership of Nimo doesn’t seems to get better as the days go by.
“No individual had the right and power to claim ownership of such asset because he is the Traditioner ruler of the town. We want the Police to stop coming to Nimo to arrest our innocent people. Let us have pass in Nimo.
“It is for the above, among several others that we plead that you use your good office to wade and stop the Igwe of Nimo, HRH Maxi Ike Iliobi the PG, Mr. Ekenenna Okafor-Omabor from further throwing Nimo Community to avoidable crisis” She asserted.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Police Commissioner in-charge of Operations, Ibrahim Ezekiel(DCP) has commended the women who were dressed in black attires for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner, he assured them that the Command under CP Adeoye Aderemi will wade into the crises to resolved it once and for all.