Landlords and residents of Unity Estate, Eneka, Rivers State, have accused the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Chijioke Ihunwo, of being involved in the alleged unlawful demolition of their properties.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the affected landlords claimed that heavily armed men, accompanied by bulldozers, stormed the estate in the early hours of Wednesday, February 19, 2025, demolishing houses and fences.
The persons claimed they were enforcing a court judgment in favour of the Rumunduru community against the Eneka community.
However, the landlords insist that no court ruling was ever served to them before the demolition.
They alleged that residents were prevented from recording videos of the incident, raising concerns about the legality of the operation.
Additionally, landlords and tenants were reportedly asked to pay N300,000 each as “registration money,” with payments strictly in cash, which they believe suggests an extortion scheme disguised as legal enforcement.
As demolitions are expected to continue, the landlords have called on Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to urgently intervene and stop what they term an injustice.
They are also appealing to human rights organizations and the general public to help expose the alleged oppression.
READ ALSO: Lagos Demolishes 138 Shanties At Ajao Estate Canal
LG Boss Denies Allegation
But the LG boss Ihunwo has denied any involvement in the demolition, dismissing the claims as “cheap propaganda” from political detractors.
A statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Amadi Eze, clarified that the land in question has been a subject of legal dispute between the Rumunduru and Eneka communities.
He said a recent court ruling favoured the Rumunduru people, and the ongoing demolitions are simply an enforcement of that judgment.
The chairman urged the public to disregard the accusations, emphasizing that the matter is being handled by the Rumunduru community and its leadership, without any interference from his office.
