By John Ugo, Awka
Hundreds of youths from Umugama village in Ukwulu Community of Dunukofia Local Government Area, Anambra State on Friday besieged the State Police headquarters, to protest against land grabbing by their monarch,Igwe Peter Uyanwa
The youths in black clothes accused the monarch of land grabbing and using police operatives to arrest and lock up members of the community who dared to oppose his decision.
The youths were led by one Mr Philip Dilibe accused the monarch of selling off their land.
They chanted derogatory songs asking the ruler to leave their lands for them, while wielding placards with various inscriptions.
Some of the placards read: ‘Stop violence in Umugama’, ‘Igwe Ezedike stop selling our lands’, ‘we need peace in our land not violence’, among others.
The protesters also marched to the zonal police command, Ukpo and the Palace of the clan head of Dunukofia, Igwe Robert C. Eze, Okofia VI.
At the state police command, representative of the commissioner of Police and the police spokesman, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu advised the protesters to get an attorney to articulate their grievances in the form of a petition.
He said that the commissioner will work on it to ensure peace in the community.
“We are happy that you are protesting peacefully, and we want to assure you that the commissioner will look into your petition once you write him formally and will ensure that investigation is carried out, and your grievances will be addressed,” Ikenga told the protesters.
However, the traditional ruler reportedly said he had nothing to do with any land belonging to Umugama village.
He said: “That village is having their own crisis, and I’m not from that village, and I have nothing to do with their land, even though I’m their traditional ruler.
“They even told me they wanted to protest to my palace today for me to settle the dispute they have, but I said no, I didn’t want to receive visitors. What you must know is that more than 80 per cent of the protesters are not my subjects, they were just hired for the protest. I don’t have even one plot of land in that village.” He was quoted as having said.