By okey alozie
Umuchima, Ihiagwa in Owerri West Local Government of Imo State on Tuesday went on protest over the encroachment on their land by Federal University of Technology (FUTO) authorities.
The community according to sources received information that FUTO authorities have defied court order by bulldozing into their land in order to commence the building of their staff quarters. This prompted the villagers to storm the troubled spot and resist every move by the university workers to carry on with the clearing job.
The two parties were said to have engaged in serious physical combat which was checked by helpful peace makers who rushed to the scene to calm nerves of warring factions.
When Trumpeta visited the troubled spot, a big coffin was discovered to have been placed at the middle of the land with the bold inscription on it “ISIABAKA RIP” Some of the village youths were spotted carrying various placards which read “FUTO people leave our land alone” “ISIABAKA Leave our land for us” However, the police authority later arrived the scene which helped to reduce tension in the area.
One of the community leaders who spoke to newsmen at the place, Mr Emmanuel Onyeubi from Umuchima and the chairman of Owerri Landlord Association said that the land matter between them and FUTO is still in court and wondered why the university cannot obey court order.
In his words “We took FUTO to court and they Institution is defiling court order”.
“We tried to stop them from entering the place but the school authority claimed that they have a counter order, this time around, we want to begin farming on the land” he explained.
Speaking further, he revealed that the villagers refused honouring any invitation to meet with the FUTO on the land matter until court decides on it.
The aggrieved community youths stated that they demanded the prove from FUTO authority to show that the court have given them order to take the land in question but they did not present any prove.
Mr Sam Anokam who also spoke our reporter revealed that the mater is at High Court 6 Owerri.
He described FUTO action as illegal adding that the university has taken more than required.
“After acquiring over 1003 Acrs of land, they still want to take more to build their staff quarters which is unacceptable” he said.
He further revealed that FUTO has also taken an extension of 1002 Acrs of land along Owerri Port Harcourt road where they claimed will be used for International School and University Teaching Hospital.
He said, inspite of all these, the university which is presently having one of the largest premises in Nigeria, is yet to appreciate what the host community (Ihiagwa) has done for them rather they preferred to exploit the villagers by robbing them of their lands.
He therefore warned FUTO to stay clear from the land until it is properly resolved by the court.
Investigation showed that Imo state government had withdrawn from the land matter.
Presently, the villagers are challenging FUTO at the court for extending their boundary. The case is currently being handled by Justice Ukoha at High Court 6 Owerri.
The next hearing will be coming at court 6 on the 25th of this month.
When contacted on the issue, the PRO of the university Mr Ezenwa debunked all the allegations saying that the villagers lied against the school.
“There is no court order to that effect” he declared.
In addition, he stated that all the necessary documents for the acquisition of the land are with the school authority.
