Edo Moves Against Land Grabbers, As Residents Lose N1.5 Billion

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Government has put in place measures to checkmate activities of touts, just as it announced that residents have lost over N1.5bn to land-grabbers in the state.

State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikare, said  in Benin City,

that the government has arrested six mischief makers who in the guise of a protest stormed the  state secretariat at Sapele Road, Benin City, armed with dangerous weapons and charms threatening the lives of workers and others at the complex.

The Commissioner explained that the land touts claimed they are from the Irhirhi axis where a new town is being developed, noting that the government will not relent in its commitment to rid the state of land-grabbers.

“Yesterday, we had some protesters who stormed the secretariat complex; they came in a rowdy manner threatening staff of the state government for doing their work and implementing government’s policies and programmes.

“We had a full day last week for victims of land grabbing, as we had a stakeholders’ meeting for victims to discuss with the government and we had a productive discussion.

“Land grabbers are fighting back and luckily for us, six people were arrested and they are already being prosecuted; they may have gone to Court or may be appearing in Court on Monday.

“Government policies must be obeyed. It’s what keeps the society different from the animal kingdom. What the government did was to retrieve its stolen properties as the government wants to create a new town in the area.

“The land grabbers have made over N1. 5 billion from their victims. Now, they are threatening the government and its staff, and come to the secretariat doing rituals in an attempt to threaten the peace of the state.

“We were really disappointed with the action of the so-called protesters who came threatening the lives of civil servants in the state and going to Block C where the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development is sited. We will not tolerate such acts anymore.”