BY TEDDY NWANUNOBI

Barring any last-minute intervention from President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other well-meaning stakeholders, an estimated 500,000 people from the six communities of Mbaishii in Ngor/Okpala Local government Area of Imo State would be in danger as economic genocide stares them in the face.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, the people of Umuchie Eziama, Umuogba Eziama, Umuocham Ntu, Umuokpo Ntu, Umuhoko Ntu and Alatia-Amala cried out to the world, to save them from what they described as a “coordinated economic genocide.”

Their spokesperson, Dr Ugo Jim-Nwoko, decried the way and manner their land of over 30,000 hectares was forcefully acquired and given to Evangelist Ebuka Obi’s Zion Ministries Incorporated to be turned into a religious centre.

Flanked by Public Affairs Consultant & Mediator, Dr Sam Amadi, Member of Mbaishii Lead, Barr Armstrong Ukwuoma, and other representatives of the communities, Jim-Nwoko said the communities, through their solicitors, Kelechi Amaliei & Co, have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP; the Chief of Army Staff, the National Human Right Commission (NHRC); the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator United Nations; the Hon. President ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, the Chairman Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, adding that the press conference was still part of their effort of seeking amicable resolution of the matter.

Lamenting the orchestrated assault on their only means of livelihood, Jim-Nwoko said that the traditional owners of the land have since been prevented from accessing their farms through a series of intimidation, harassment and brutalization by the military personnel.

Jim-Nwoko said that the military presence has persisted for over nine months, effectively preventing farming activities and leading to the destruction of crops and economic trees.

“This act can best be described as an economic genocide,” the group said, lamenting that their only means of survival, agriculture, has been wiped out by bulldozers and caterpillars working under military watch.

“While we concede to the right of the Imo State Government to compulsorily acquire land within the state, we also insist that such compulsory land acquisition must be for demonstrable overriding public purposes with strict compliance with the due process of law in consonance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Land Use Act 1978.

“We wish to state categorically, that the Imo State Government, at no time acquired the 30,000 hectares of land or any portion thereof in respect of which the Imo State Governor, hiding under the cover of the Government of Imo State has deployed the Men of the Nigeria Army, Police and other security personnel to parade and occupy, as no such documents to such purported acquisitions exists anywhere,” he said.

Earlier, in his introduction of the event, Sam Amadi feared that the issue would cause security crises among the citizens of the communities.

“This issue, if not well handled, will cause a massive security crisis in Ngor/Okpala. Already, Ngor/Okpala is witnessing growing insecurity, and so, I think it’s part of my responsibility as a citizen of Ngor/Okpala in Imo State, who cares about peace, to find a way to resolve this crisis,” he said.

But when called to respond to the allegation, the Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Barr Enyinnaya Onuegbu, who also happens to come from Mbaishii, said that the allegation was false.

“I know about the place. Yes, that’s my community, and I am the Commissioner for Lands.

“Do you think I will allow anybody to grab land of the indigene? It is not true. It exists in the imagination of those who told you the fake news. The state government, the Governor of Imo state, in exercise of his powers under the Land Use Act, is the sole custodian of every land in Imo State’s territory. And the government acquires land for public purposes, our development.

“The land you are talking about was acquired by the (Governor Achike) Udennwa administration more than 22 years ago. The land was acquired in 2003 by the Udennwa administration. The land was not acquired by the Uzodimma administration,” Onuegbu said.

He further explained what was given to the Zion Ministries Incorporated.

“Imo State Government, under Governor Uzodimma, revoked the title of Imo-Chelsea Limited, and has given part of that land, about 1,000 hectares, to Zion Ministries Incorporated for integrated development. We have 2,000 hectares. We have given 1,000 hectares to Zion Ministries Incorporated,” he added.