... They built on our land - AKHA Deputy Speaker replies
In the secluded area of Ntak Inyang, called Ekpene Ekpe, in Akwa Ibom State's Itu Local Government Area, thirteen landlords woke up on February 16, 2024, only to find their homes demolished by evening. They felt lost, grieving, and homeless.
Mr. Donald Esin, holding his daughter and fighting back tears, said, "I can't believe this is happening. I worked hard for over three years since 2021, using all my savings to build my house. Now, it's gone, and I don't know what to do."
He continued, "It's unfair. I bought the land legally with permission from the Village Head and others. There were no warnings. I got a call while at work saying my house was being demolished by youths in black clothes with machetes."
He added, "The people who sold us the land are shocked too. They say the Edidem family is responsible."
Another landlord, NseyenAbasi Esitmbom told newsmen that those who came for the demolition dressed in black with cutlasses while some were completely masked.
Our reporter learned that residents who were at home and threatened to undress were spared from having their houses demolished. Additionally, those who provided money to those responsible for the "illegal" demolition also escaped having their homes destroyed. However, some homeowners faced brutality and threats of violence when they attempted to question the demolition.
Another homeowner, Isaiah Akpan told newsmen: "They didn't allow us to record the injustice with our phones, nor did they allow us to take anything from our houses. I am completely finished," he said.
Another homeowner, Martha Edet, narrated how she learned of the painful incidence. "I was on my way to work and I was called to come back, that my house was being demolished by over 50 youths who came with a bulldozer, and I took a tricycle and rushed home only to meet my house demolished.
One of the landlords, Columbus Adasi, told reporters that he bought the land as far back as 2013 after carrying out investigations in the Village, and there was no information of his land being in contention with anyone, adding that there was no pending court case, and that their lands were legitimate property, questioning what their offense was that the family of Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem would appear after more than a decade and demolish over 13 houses without any notice.
“There was no court order, no notice served, nothing. Why is one family trying to frustrate us this much in this economy when a bag of cement is now N12,000? I took a loan to build this house, and look at me today, I suffered to buy and build, what did I do to this government?" he asked rhetorically and in tears.
Adasi who could not hold back tears asked the Akwa Ibom state government to come to their aid.
“I am appealing to our dear Governor, who is an ordained man of God, to please set up a committee to investigate this devilish act and please correct this injustice and demand that the people behind this wickedness to cause to pay for this.”
Speaking from his sick bed, one Victor, another resident, said he hasn't regained himself since that day. According to him, he slumped immediately he saw his house completely brought down, and he woke up in a hospital 11 hours later.
Those who sold the land insisted that the land belongs to them and has never been involved in any form of contention, and they sold it legally to the residents, and there were no squatters on the land. They said the land is free from government acquisition, and they had never had any problem with either land grabbers or the government and were very surprised and disturbed at the turn of events.
Our reporter gathered that some of the homeowners have survey plan, the land agreement and the certificate of authority to build there.
The people alleged that they have received information that arrangements are in top gear to remove the debris of the illegal demolition in order to conceal the act. They insisted that the land was not under any known government acquisition, no court judgment was obtained against them, and the demolition was not a result of any levying of execution of court judgment.
Visit To The Village Head of Ntak Inyang:
Our reporter visited the palace of the Village Head of Ntak Inyang, Chief (Elder) Valentine Effiong Odung, who stated unequivocally that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are from Atai Ibiaku Itam.
Eteidung Odung said he was informed that The Edidem family in Atai Ibiaku Itam came to his village to demolish the people's houses.
Asked if he had any pre-notice or information before it was done, the Village Head said he did not.
He regretted that “Some Institutions in Nigeria don't work anymore; these days anyone can do anything and go scot-free. I'm afraid it can even happen to me by these men who are in power.”
The Village Head, who said that information had that the Edidem’s family came with the Court order to court the houses, said he did not see the Court order.
On the real owners of the land, the Village Head insisted that his forbears never sold any parcel of land outrightly during those years to anybody except by land pledge and wondered why the dastardly act occurred.
Visit to the Ikot Obio Atai Community:
When a team of Newsmen arrived at the Community, they met with Chairman of Ikot Obio Atai Itam Village; Elder Nsikak Etim Edem, who is also acting as the Village Head after the demise of their leader.
Elder Edem told a team of journalists that he was shocked and had pitied the homeowners after hearing the news of the demolish.
“When I asked who was behind the havoc, I was told Rt. Hon. Edidem and his brothers came with a bulldozer with a court order to demolish, that is what I heard."
Reflecting on the history of land ownership in Ekpene Ekpe, the Chairman recounted how his mother explained that in past years, individuals used to contribute their land to cooperatives for planting palm fruits.
He mentioned that during that era, he became aware that Okon Kpeti and Edidem utilized the cooperative land for palm fruit cultivation.
“However, after some time, when the palm fruit business ceased, those who had originally owned their lands and contributed them to the cooperative reclaimed their land and resumed farming, as it rightfully belonged to them,” he explained.
The representative of the Village Head informed reporters that several years ago, he became aware of a legal dispute involving Edidem's family and a person named Michael, who had occupied a small portion of land. After winning the case, only that specific area was awarded to Udo Edidem, not the entire area that they subsequently demolished.
When asked if he was aware that the land where people's houses were demolished belonged to the family of the Itu Assemblyman, he responded: “There's no place where they demolished that they can definitively claim their father owned the land or purchased it. I challenge them to provide evidence that their father owned or acquired the land. If they assert that their father owned the land, they should identify who owns the nearby lands surrounding them.
“One can only acquire land through inheritance, as a gift, or by purchasing it. I urge them to disclose how they obtained the land they proceeded to demolish people's properties on, especially in this challenging economy where a bag of cement costs almost N13,000.”
Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem speaks:
However, in order to provide a balanced perspective, the member representing Itu State Constituency and also serving as the Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem, was contacted via mobile phone. He informed the reporter that among the 21 male children in his family, he is the 20th. Furthermore, he acknowledged that his family indeed demolished the houses following the acquisition of a court order (he did not specify the court's name).
In the exact words of Hon. Edidem: “Over six person (sic) have call (sic)... I'm answering you because I know you, so that if i hear (sic) any misleading publication I know it's from you…because I know what journalists do."
When pressed by the caller to retract his statement implying that journalists engage in blackmail, the lawmaker stood firm in his stance. He later asserted that his family simply adhered to a court order, contending that the individuals had constructed their buildings on land belonging to his family.
But, the Itu lawmaker later said: “If I tell you the truth that I was not even aware that that demolishing is going to be done.”
The UCCDA Chairman speaks:
The Chairman of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA), Hon. Anietie Eka, informed a reporter that the reprehensible action was not conducted by his office.
"I've only just become aware of this information. Our office has not initiated any demolition, and I am not informed about the incident," Eka stated during a phone conversation.
Proper Procedure for Demolition:
Meanwhile, a lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at a university emphasized that before any demolition takes place in the state, it is essential to serve at least four distinct notices at various times and intervals. These notices comprise a contravention notice, a stop-work notice, a quit notice, and finally, the demolition notice.
He further revealed that a specific deadline for response is mandatory. However, Hon. Edidem did not confirm whether his family members followed these procedures before displacing the impoverished landlords of Ekpene Ekpe and exposing them to the danger of potential snake bites, as one family recounted nearly experiencing.
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