The President General of the Ibusa Community Youth Association, Comrade Ifeanyi Asiodu, has blamed the prevailing security challenge in the community on the activities of land grabbers parading themselves as donees of Power of Attorney.
Comrade Asiodu, who bared his mind on the issue while speaking with newsmen in Asaba, said the impunity with which some of the donees went about their illegal land deals was worrisome and needed to be checked to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
The Youth Leader, who is also the Alum of Ibusa, noted with dismay the flagrant disrespect for Court Orders by the donees concerned and the unwarranted protection being given to them by the police.
The PG, who had fallen victim of land grabbing, narrated how he bought some plots of land last year at different locations in Umuisaba village, Ibusa, some with C of O and fenced them out, only for the Diokpa of the village to donate the Power of Attorney to a prominent son of the community who allegedly mobilized thugs to bring down the fences and property in the lands and started selling to a Real Estate developer.
Comrade Asiodu, who is also a community leader, wondered why the police should allow themselves to be used to oppress, intimidate and illegally acquire people’s lands, saying that the donee of the Umuisaba Power of Attorney had always boasted that no one had the power to stop him.
He said he had chosen to pursue his case in Court, believing that some day he would get justice, even as he revealed that over 200 plots of land he genuinely acquired had been illegally sold and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
The Ibusa Youth PG commended the efforts of the Oshimili North local government at checking land grabbing, especially in Ibusa and Okpanam, but called for strict enforcement of the by-law prohibiting illegal land sales and grabbing.
Comrade Asiodu also appealed to the State Governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and the relevant authorities to intervene in the matter, insisting that no individual should be seen to be above the law.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, denied any police romance with land grabbers in Ibusa and indeed any part of the state, urging anyone with proof to come forward with it.