In Aguata, Obinabo Nkpologwu wants police post

THE people of Obinabo Village, Nkpologwu, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, have appealed to the state government to establish a police station in the disputed land between them and neighboring Umuekpili clan, in Ula Village, Ekwulobia, to avert breakdown of public order and tranquility in the area.

  Making the clarion call, the chairman of Obinabo Nkpologwu, Victor Ezeoke, told journalists that they had volunteered to donate a piece of land to the state government for the establishment of the police station, if that would enthrone lasting peace amongst indigenes of the two communities.

  Ezeoke made the suggestion sequel to alleged demolition of boundary beacons constructed by the Anambra State Boundary Committee by suspected hoodlums .

  He disclosed that various high court judgments were delivered in 1935, 1997 and 2001 by the Supreme Court over the disputed land which did not give any title to their opponents but in favour of Obinabo Nkpologwu, before he was elected in 2016, and he was given all the documents concerning the matter.

  It was gathered that the State Boundary Committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, with Sir Emmanuel Nwokoye as secretary, had mediated in the said land dispute and constructed the nine concrete beacons to demarcate the border between the two communities.

  The committee had erected nine beacons within three consecutive days, on 21st – 23rd  October, this year, and returned on 24th October to continue its assignment only to discover that the three beacons erected on 23td October, had been destroyed.

  Sequel to the unlawful demolition of the three concrete beacons, the state police command reportedly deployed the Anti-cult Squad to the troubled spot and subsequently arrested some people alleged to be natives of Umuekpili Ekwulobia, who were quizzed over the matter and later granted bail.

  It was further gathered that the Anti-cult Squad was deployed to maintain law and order in the area by the Commissioner of Police (CP) owing to series of petitions inundating the State Boundary Committee and the law-enforcement agency, following alleged encroachment and illegal sale of portions of the disputed land by unknown persons, against the instruction of the committee to both parties to keep off and allow the boundary committee conclude its job there.

  The boundary committee waded into the matter with a view to finding a permanent solution by demarcating the border between the two communities by constructing big concrete beacons painted with green-white-green national colour, and had erected nine pillars within three days (21st – 23rd October).

  But on 24th October, the committee arrived at the place to continue its assignment only to discover that three of the beacons had been pulled down, while a group of people were reportedly seen at the location, brandishing dangerous weapons and threatening to demolish the remaining beacons.

  When contacted over the latest development, the Executive Secretary of the State Boundary Committee, Sir Emmanuel Nwokoye, frowned against the destruction of the border beacons and cautioned community leaders to beware of tampering with such government’s property which tantamount to an illegality punishable under the law.