Residents and natives of Uzamu Isinomeh, Emene Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, including widows, were plunged into sorrow on Monday as their homes were demolished by officials of an Enugu State government agency.
The victims, among them Ezinne Blessing Nkemjurum Oguike, a widow, recounted how individuals suspected to be officials from the Ministry of Lands and Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority orchestrated the demolition.
Mrs. Oguike, a widow from Imo State, represented by her son, Chukwuebuka Oguike, revealed that they had owned and utilized the land for over 62 years, having acquired it from the original landowners prior to the construction of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
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The octogenarian claimed they received no prior notice of vacation or land acquisition by the government before the demolition on Monday, April 29, 2024, which she estimates has caused them losses exceeding 500 million naira.
Furthermore, Mrs. Oguike explained that following discussions with former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi regarding the true ownership of the land, they were advised to complete necessary documentation.
After fulfilling all requirements and paying the assessed Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) fees amounting to N5,832,120.12, she received approval from the governor via a letter dated 20/02/2024. However, the C of O issuance was halted due to an unspecified order from above.
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Another widow and native of Uzamu Isinomeh, Mrs. Eunice Agbo, whose ancestral home was also demolished, recounted efforts made since her husband’s death in 1979 to obtain a photocopy of a map from the archives showing her late husband, Innocent Agbo, as the landowner.
Despite confirming her late husband’s ownership through the Ministry of Lands and archives, she was informed that obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy was unnecessary since the land was their ancestral property.
Expressing her distress, Mrs. Agbo pleaded with the State Government to intervene in the matter to prevent them from being rendered homeless or evicted from their ancestral or acquired lands.
As of the time of this report, the Enugu State government has yet to respond to these claims, leaving the affected residents in a state of uncertainty and distress.