UGHELLI—THE Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Abe 1, has condemned the planned demolition of buildings in Ohore village, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State by men of the Nigerian Army, describing it as oppressive.
The monarch, who addressed women of the kingdom, who embarked on a protest against the alleged harassment and dispossession of land belonging to Ohore community by soldiers, lamented that the “village is on the verge of being thrown away.”
He said; “the Ministry of Defense needed land to establish the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, the community generously gave out land for that purpose. All along, we have been looking at development at the area for the past years. Of recent, it was observed that the place is now being commercialised, being sold to companies, and administered by the Army.
“That was not the purpose for which the land was donated. Of course, no reasonable community will accept that. This is our place, we welcome development, investors, but at the same time, people should not cheat or marginalise us in our place. You could see most of the houses there are not meant for the army. They are owned by private individuals.
“Our people cannot get a shop there, they are being thrown away, but in the actual fact, they are supposed to benefit from it. We will continue to protest this marginalisation and oppression peacefully because we want peace and dialogue in Delta State.
“We are not against any development, but do not go outside the agreement. Can you imagine that a village is on the verge of being thrown away? All the houses where marked for demolition. Where are they going to stay if you throw them out? This is what they just came to tell me.
BY FESTUS AHON
