By Ada Okafor
Four suspects have been arrested by the Police in Enugu for allegedly trespassing into a fenced private premises and demolishing two houses therein, in an apparent land grabbing attempt.
The invaded property is a swat of land, with a few buildings, situated along Ugwogo-Opi Road, Ibeagwa, Nike, measuring approximately 8.5 hectares.
The land is said to belong to an Enugu based transport company, Peace Mass Transit, Limited.
The arrest of the suspects followed complaints of malicious damage, criminal trespass, and conspiracy to commit crime, filed Tuesday at the Nike Police Station, by the Public Relations Officer of the company, Mr Progress Ezeh.
In his statement to the police, the PRO reported that “some unknown persons, suspected to be land grabbers, had forcefully invaded the gated premises overnight on Monday, with a bulldozer, demolishing every structure in sight!
“They first pulled down the perimeter fencing round the property, moved deep inside to demolish one unit of 3-bedroom main building,in the centre ,and a big security building by the gate area,” Mr Ezeh told the police in his statement.
The hoodlums also allegedly took away aluminium sheets, iron rods, iron gate and movable items from the vandalised property.
Police reportedly moved into action swiftly and in the course of early investigation, apprehended four persons, took them into custody: two on Tuesday and another two this (Wednesday) morning.
The company representative told journalists on wednesday that police findings had also led to the recovery of some of the items looted from the premises by the hoodlums, many from the accomplice/receiver, in another part of the town.
The company is urging the police to investigate the attack thoroughly, and particularly extend their searchlight to possible sponsors beyond the suspects already in custody.
The owner of PMT, Dr. Samuel Onyishi, told journalists that he had contacted the Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory, Barr. Uche Anya, to find out if he knew anything about the attack on the property.
“He told me categorically he knew nothing about it, and did not send or authorise anyone to do any such thing.
“He even asked me to record his voice; and that if the state government needed to revoke my land, they would first invite me to defend the move”, Dr. Onyishi said.
Attempts to speak to the Investigating Police Officer(IPO), Inspector Lucy Agbo, on the matter was unsuccessful.
Calls to the Enugu State Police Officer, Superintendent Dan Ndukwe, were not answered.
Land grabbing has been a recurring, worrisome menace in parts of Enugu, particularly in parts of Nike and Awkunanaw area of the capital city, a trend that has compelled the Peter Mbah administration to enact an edict against the practice!
