Essential Ndubuisi
Residents of Nimo, a town in Anambra State, Nigeria, have taken to the streets to protest against the alleged illegal sale of a large expanse of community farmland by the leadership of the Nimo Town Development Union. The land, known as “ana owa”, was reportedly sold for N900 million without approval from the community or any benefits accruing to it.
Barrister Chuks Okonkwo, former Chairman of the Lagos branch of the union, who led the protest, expressed his dissatisfaction with the arbitrary sale, stating that it was not in the interest of the community’s sustainable development. According to him, all efforts to halt the action by concerned citizens yielded no results.
The protesters, made up of Nimo indigenes, also alleged that the town union leadership dispossessed widows at Oye market of their means of livelihood, and rented out their shops to wealthy individuals.
However, the National Secretary of the Nimo Town Development Union, Mr. Patrick Egbekpalu, dismissed the protesters as miscreants, and denied any wrongdoing on the part of the union. He noted that the decision to develop the land was taken by the Nimo General Assembly in 2012, and that channels of communication exist for clarification on issues.
In a similar vein, the traditional ruler of Nimo, Igwe Maxi Oliobi, described the protesters as “confusionists” trying to cause problems in the community. He called on those making allegations of illegalities to seek clarification from relevant authorities, and assured the public that his reign in Nimo has been peaceful.
Amid the protest, a resident, Miss Ugochukwu Onyeka, alleged that one of the security personnel deployed to the community seized her mobile phone while she was taking photos. She claims that her phone has not been returned to her several hours after the protest.
The protest by the Nimo indigenes highlights the need for transparency in community development, and calls for community leaders to prioritize the interests of their constituents.
