Prof. Isaac Ngulube: “If left unchecked it could lead to anarchy”
By Ephraim Emmanuel
ELEME, RIVERS STATE — The Paramount Ruler of Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area, Professor Isaac Ngulube, has called on the Rivers State Government to urgently address cases of land grabbing and unlawful encroachment on Alesa ancestral lands by suspected sponsored armed thugs from a neighboring local government.
Prof. Ngulube made the call following a shootout last Thursday along the Alesa New Settlement area by suspected armed thugs.
“The incident is one too many as there have been recorded cases of rapes on our women going in for farming, extortion and intimidation,” the paramount ruler said.
He warned that if the situation is not checked, it could “lead to anarchy.”
Prof. Ngulube specifically called on the Federal and State Surveyors-General to demarcate boundaries and resolve the dispute. He vowed that the people of Alesa would resist any attempt of encroachment and forceful taking of their ancestral land.
Landowner Laments DestructionAlso speaking, an acclaimed landowner in the disputed area, Benjamin Oluka, expressed shock that his plot was sold without his notice.
“I went to my land only for me to see that the area had been trespassed with trucks and heavy duty equipment, my farm produce all destroyed without my consent,” Oluka said.
Youths Blame Security Lapse: Some youths of Eleme who witnessed the shooting told our correspondent that armed thugs fired live ammunition for over 20 minutes with no arrest made. They blamed security agents for the lapse.
