Our King is Grabbing Our Lands —Youths Block Anambra Police Hdqrs in Protest
It was scenic on Friday, as youths of Umugama village in Ukwulu Community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State blocked the State's Police Headquarters in Amawbia in protest over an internecine crisis rocking the village.
Fully dressed in black, the youths accused their monarch, Igwe Peter Uyanwa of grabbing their and selling lands, and using police operatives to arrest and lock up members of the community who dared to oppose his decision.
Led by Mr Philip Dilibe, the protesters, who were with placards with various inscriptions, chanted derogatory songs, asking the traditional ruler to leave their lands for them.
Among the write-ups on the placards are: ‘Igwe Ezedike stop selling our lands’, ‘Stop violence in Umugama’, ‘we need peace in our land not violence’, among others.
Reacting on behalf of the State's Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, the state's Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu commended to utilizing lawful and peaceful means to make their grievances known, and further assured them that the Commissioner will look into their matter, to restore a lasting peace in the community.
He, however, also advised them to get an attorney to articulate their grievances in the form of a petition for proper presentation.
He said, “We are happy that you are protesting peacefully, and we want to assure you that the Commissioner will look into your petition once you write him formally and will ensure that investigation is carried out, and your grievances will be addressed.”
The protesters also headed to the Zonal Police Command, Ukpo and the Palace of the Clan Head of Dunukofia, Igwe Robert C. Eze, Okofia VI.
However, when contacted, the accused traditional ruler of Ukwulu, Igwe Peter Uyanwa denied having anything to do with land belonging to Umugama village —a village he noted, is having their internal crisis, which he himself is not involved in, despite being their traditional ruler.
He said: “That village is having their own crisis, and I’m not from that village, and I have nothing to do with their land, even though I’m their traditional ruler.
“They even told me they wanted to protest to my palace today for me to settle the dispute they have, but I said no, I didn’t want to receive visitors. What you must know is that more than 80 per cent of the protesters are not my subjects, they were just hired for the protest. I don’t have even one plot of land in that village.”