By Kamsi Anayo
No fewer than 1000 women of Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state have protested against the traditional ruler, Igwe Max Ike Oliobi, and the leadership of the town union over alleged “land grabbing” and “high-handedness”.
The women threatened that if Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, do not urgently intervene and address their challenges, they will have no other option than to embark on naked protest against the community leadership.
The women stormed the state government house, Awka, on Wednesday, with placards calling on the state government to end the activities of the traditional ruler and the town union executive.
They added that if the leadership do not stop selling the community land, the action might trigger a communal war in no distance time.
The placards reads; ,”the leadership of Nimo Town Union Development must go”, “Nimo Town Union Leadership is our subject therefore has no right to sell or negotiate our land”, among others.
Mrs Ifeoma Ezeozue, who spoke on behalf of the women, said the protest was in reaction to the indiscriminate sale of their accestral farmlands without consideration for the future.
Ezeozue, accused the leaders of turning the community into their personal property alleging that the leaders were also using security personnel to harass and intimidate people , especially, the youths opposed against their order.
“Nimo accestral farmlands are being sold out indiscriminately without our notice. We no longer go to farm because, there is no more land to farm. They want to force us into prostitution.
“They have declare sit-at-home in Nimo community, because, we now wake up everyday and stay idle at home without any engagement. Farming is one of our major source of livelihood in the area.
“So, our coming here today, in front of the State Government House, is to register our vulnerable conditions before the governor to help us address the problem. We want peace in Nimo community, Ezeozue said.
Responding, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulubelu, appealed to the women to remain calm, assuring them that the government under Prof Soludo will address their demands without delay.
The protest letter was later received by the SSG.
