Rivers State Assembly Intervenes In Land Grabbing Issues Between Communities

Alleged Land Grabbing: Rivers Assembly Intervenes in Rumuosi Crisis as Chief Shuns Invitations

By Sandra Kenneth

17\07\26

A massive land dispute involving over 6,000 plots at Victory Estate in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, has prompted a full-scale parliamentary investigation by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The intervention by the House Committee on Public Petitions follows outcry from local landowners who accused a traditional chief, Colonel Ogwuwerum-Eke, of executing unauthorized demolitions and leveling built structures under the guise of property ownership.

During an on-site assessment of the disputed territory, Committee Chairman Hon. Enemi George revealed that preliminary findings show the land claimed by Ogwuwerum-Eke actually falls completely outside the boundaries of the court judgment he has been citing.

Hon. George strongly condemned the respondent's defiance, noting that the chief had repeatedly ignored official legislative invitations. This non-cooperation forced lawmakers to visit the site directly to interface with victims.

Terming land grabbing a critical menace plaguing Rivers State, George directed the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council to immediately deploy adequate security to Victory Estate to avert a total breakdown of law and order.

The ongoing destruction has heavily impacted key developmental projects in the area, including an 80-percent-completed professional facility belonging to the Rivers State Chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

State PSN Chairman, Lekia Princewill, lamented the setback, stating that the building was structurally designed to serve as a vital regional resource center for drug analysis and essential pharmaceutical operations.

Adding weight to the dispute, spokespersons for the Rumuosi community have publicly debunked the chief's claims. They maintained that the entire 6,000 plots sit squarely within Rumuosi Kingdom and share no geographical boundary whatsoever with the neighboring Rumuaghorlu community.