Traders at Woliwo (Ogbo Oroma), Port Harcourt road, Onitsha and Nkwelle Ezunaka in Anambra State at the weekend counted their losses, following demolition of illegal structures and shanties in the area by enforcement team of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB).
The structures were reportedly taken over by a fraudulent developer, who converted the same to market amid risks occasioned by high tension cables along the area.
The victims, who spoke to The Nation, claimed to have paid for the space to the landowner over 15 years ago.
One of them, who simply identified himself as Pastor Ukoha, accused the government of lack of empathy for the poor selling at the affected areas.
He said: “I just finished developing small structures to help my business. I got approval after paying the landlord and local government authorities.”
“This is the third time government is doing this thing to us and it’s not good. I am very disappointed with the current government.”
Another victim, who preferred anonymity, said: “We were not served notice. I was on my way when I got a call to come and remove my property before the structure is demolished.
“Just a few weeks ago, I spent over N200,000 to put up this structure. We wouldn’t have lost so much. Although I don’t know the name of the landlord, we paid him. We’ve been here for over 40 years.”
Reacting, ANSPPB Chairman, Chike Mmaduekwe, warned illegal developers against building without approval, which, he stressed, contradicted Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s objective of achieving a livable and prosperous homeland.
He said: “Whether they’ve been there for 100 years is immaterial, as long as they’re committing an illegality. That land belongs to the government. It used to be an open space before the government de-zoned it.
“I actually blame the rightful owners. If you don’t put up structures there, someone else will start selling the land to innocent people, who probably are bona fide purchasers of right without notice.
“The truth is that they were severely warned with notice. This should be the third time. Each time you come and mark it, some individuals, who claim to be influential, will oppose the move.
“In fact, one of them, who blocked a water way within the area, has been using all forms of arms and intimidation to put innocent market women there.
“There’s no place we carried out enforcement they won’t tell you there was no notice. If you watch the walls, they’ve been marked, some as early as last year.
“Let them go and negotiate with the land owners if they want to be there. Government can’t afford to tolerate rightful owners of land being intimidated unnecessarily.
“We’ve been arresting culprits and we’re taking a lot of them to court next week. When they’re convicted and jailed, we will recover the cost of the enforcement.”
