Land Grabbers Running Riot In Rivers – Ndigbo Community Alleges After 700 Complaints

June 25 () — The Ndigbo Community in Rivers State has raised the alarm over what it described as rampant land grabbing across several parts of the state, alleging that more than 700 complaints have been received from property owners affected by forceful land takeovers, multiple sales of plots, unlawful occupation of properties and other related disputes.

The community warned that the growing trend has evolved into a major humanitarian, economic and security challenge threatening the lives, investments and future of thousands of residents.

Speaking through its President General, Chief Emmanuel Anya, in a statement issued on Thursday, the group said the increasing wave of land-related disputes has left many families emotionally traumatised, financially devastated and, in some instances, allegedly contributed to the loss of lives.

According to the statement, the petitions were submitted by members of Igbo extraction residing and conducting business in Rivers State, detailing allegations of intimidation by suspected land grabbers, destruction of investments, encroachment on legitimately acquired properties and prolonged ownership disputes.

The community disclosed that the alarming volume of complaints prompted the inauguration and deployment of its Land Recovery and Anti-Land Grabbing Committee to investigate the matter and engage affected victims.

As part of the exercise, the committee on Thursday embarked on extensive site visits to communities stretching from SARS Road to Igbo Etche, Iriebe and parts of Oyigbo Local Government Area, where several disputed properties were inspected, and testimonies gathered from landowners.

Chief Anya described the experiences encountered during the visits as heartbreaking, noting that many victims narrated how they invested their life savings in acquiring land for residential and commercial purposes, only to discover years later that the same properties had become subjects of competing ownership claims.

“The stories encountered during the visits were heartbreaking. Many of the victims narrated how they invested their life savings into acquiring lands with the hope of building homes, establishing businesses, or securing a future for their children, only to wake up one day and discover that their properties had become subjects of multiple claims and disputes”, the statement read, adding that several affected individuals recounted years of legal battles, threats, harassment and emotional suffering arising from unresolved ownership disputes.

According to the statement, some victims broke down in tears while narrating their ordeals, with many families claiming that the burden of the disputes had negatively impacted their health, livelihoods and family relationships.

The committee also received reports suggesting that some land ownership conflicts had escalated into violent confrontations over the years, allegedly resulting in fatalities and leaving affected communities gripped by fear.

Chief Anya warned that the persistence of such disputes poses a serious threat to peaceful coexistence, investor confidence and sustainable economic development in Rivers State. He noted that the Igbo community has made significant contributions to the state’s commercial growth and economic expansion, stressing that no law-abiding citizen should live under the fear of losing legitimately acquired property.

The group appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, security agencies, relevant government ministries, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to urgently intervene and address the worsening situation. It also urged the Rivers State Government to strengthen mechanisms for protecting legitimate property owners, thoroughly investigate allegations of organised land grabbing activities and ensure that individuals found culpable are prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“The protection of lives and property remains one of the primary responsibilities of the government. The safety of investments made by residents and business owners is essential for sustaining economic growth and maintaining public confidence in the state’s development agenda”, the statement noted.

The group said hundreds of affected families and investors were looking to the government for protection and justice, warning that failure to address the issue could further undermine public confidence and discourage investment in the state.

Chief Anya maintained that the challenge extends beyond ordinary land disputes, describing it as a matter of justice, security, economic survival, human dignity and the rule of law.

“The time to act is now”, he stated.

He urged the government to take decisive action to safeguard the properties of Ndi Igbo and other law-abiding residents from the activities of land grabbers, while restoring confidence in the state’s land administration and dispute resolution mechanisms.