You risk prosecution, defraying of demolition costs, Delta Govt warns land grabbers ~ Truth Reporters

By Andy Emephia

Worried by the brazen audacity of some person's engaged in illegal land grabbing activities across the state , the Delta State government has promised to demolish properties on such lands, prosecute and cause the offenders to defray the logistics costs for such demolition exercise.

To avoid incurring the wrath of the state government , such individuals have been given the marching orders to vacate such lands in their own interest, as there will be no sacred cows once the demolition and prosecution exercise , commences.

Giving this terse warning on behalf of the state government on Monday 3rd February 2025, Commissioner for Works { Rural and Riverine roads) and Public information , Mr Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, said the Delta State government will leave no stone unturned, in reclaiming all illegally acquired lands inherited from the defunct Bendel State upon the creation of Edo and Delta States on August 27, 1991.

Addressing journalists at the conference hall of the ministry of information , Professor Chike Edozien Secretariat Complex , Asaba, Mr Aniagwu specifically mentioned the illegal land grabbing activities of an individual ( name withheld) , at the precincts of the Africa Timber and Plywood ( AT&P) , in Sapele , headquarters of Sapele local government area.

The Public information Commissioner disclosed that the individual , who had illegally encroached on the AT&P land owned by the Delta State government , had brazenly gone ahead to demolish the dispensary ( health centre) building in the place and annexed the land to himself without recourse that the land belonged to the state government.

For such person's and others yet to desist from this unwholesome act of land grabbing , Aniagwu emphasized , they should take a cue from what befell those who illegally encroached on the Dennis Osadebay University , Asaba land, where in all properties on the said lands were demolished , and the lands reclaimed by the state government.

Mr Aniagwu promised that going forward , "not only will the state government demolish properties on any illegally occupied government land, but it will also prosecute such erring individuals no matter how highly connected , and then go further to causing them to pay for the cost of the logistics expended in defraying the cost of the demolition. This is a clear warning for such person's ".

On last weekend,s unfounded allegations by the immediate past Deputy Senate President , His Excellency Senator Ovie Omo Agege, that the people of Ndokwa had not benefitted from the Oborevwori administration , Aniagwu drew Omo Agege,s attention to the completed Beneku bridge linking hundreds of communities in Ndokwa east and freeing them from the dangers of pontoon travels to access their home lands, massive investment in road infrastructure such as the more than 5km Ndemili/ Utagba uno road project , that in Ibabu Onicha Ukwuani axis , Ugili amai/ Ossissa road projects and others already ongoing and nearing completion

The Commissioner who also said emphatically that every local government in the state has projects currently ongoing in virtually every community and ward , said the massive investments in the health, education , storm water drainage , security sectors without recourse to borrowing of any kind by Governor Oborevwori, were parameters with which he bagged the This Day/ Arise TV Governor of the year 2024 award recently.

The media parley was attended by the Chief Press Secretary ( CPS) , to the Governor , Sir Festus Ahon, and the Executive Assistant on media to the Governor , Mr Felix Ofou.