Pensioners to govt: save us from land grabbers
Tension and anguish have gripped Uhuagu Obeagu-Uno in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, as pensioners and workers of National Orientation Agency (NOA) have staged a peaceful protest
Tension and anguish have gripped Uhuagu Obeagu-Uno in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, as pensioners and workers of National Orientation Agency (NOA) have staged a peaceful protest over alleged resale of their legally-acquired land.
The aggrieved workers and retirees called on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene and help them recover about 90 plots of land they claimed to have purchased years ago, many through loans and life savings.
The protesters accused a man and his son of reselling the land to suspected land grabbers despite existing ownership claims and court orders restraining further transactions on the property.
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According to the demonstrators, the land was initially purchased through an estate agent, who reportedly acquired it with proper documentation.
Carrying placards with inscriptions demanding justice, the protesters decried what they described as a systematic attempt to dispossess them of their property by individuals posing as estate developers.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Venerable Emeka Agana, an Anglican priest, said the affected NOA workers legitimately bought the 90 plots in 2017 and fulfilled financial and legal obligations tied to the acquisition.
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“We completed all payments and documentation. We even paid development levies of about N250,000 each to Obeagu Welfare and the community. We have all the necessary documents to prove ownership,” he said.
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Agana alleged that the suspects connived with the land grabbers to unlawfully take over the property, forcing the victims to seek judicial intervention.
He lamented that despite securing a court injunction restraining further activities on the land, the suspected land grabbers have continued to flout the order.
“Recently, they invaded the land, destroyed our fences and foundations, and have continued reselling the plots. They are ignoring the court injunction completely,” he said.
Describing the situation as heart-breaking, Agana noted that many of the victims were widows and pensioners, who invested their life savings in the property.
“Some of us took loans to acquire this land. We are pleading with the state government to come to our aid and help us recover what rightfully belongs to us,” he said.
The protesters warned prospective buyers to steer clear of the disputed land, stressing that the matter remains in court.
