The Albino Foundation Public Notice
A land ownership dispute in Ihekwuenu-Aku autonomous community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, has led to the demolition of a two bedroom apartment under construction belonging to Mr. Anibueze Nnadi a visually impaired person by unidentified persons.
The building which has been roofed with aluminium roofing sheets, plastered and receiving finishing touches was completely pulled down on Thursday afternoon by men believe to be paid thugs.
Speaking in tears the 65 years old blind man said he was surprised that somebody would contemplate hiring thugs to destroy the house a philanthropist was building for him.
“It was out of pity that one Mr. Okechukwu Ezeamagu asked me to show him a place so that he can build a house for me because the present place am living is a one-room mud house with a leaking roof.
“I heard that our traditional ruler is laying claim to the land, telling people that the land belongs to him but it’s a complete lie.
“It is because I am blind, poor and the only male surviving child in my own immediate family that he wants to take away my ancestral land from me.
“I call on government and spirited individuals in the society to come to my rescue by ensuring that my ancestral land is not forcefully taken away from me because l am poor and blind,” he said.
He also urged government to ensure that the those who hired thugs to pull down the 2-bedrooms that was being built for him by a kind hearted kinsman were brought to justice.
In his reaction, Okechukwu said that he decided to build the house for the blind man because he is presently living in an old and unhealthy mud house without a wife or children.
“I decided to build the demolished house for the blind man because he is living in a mud house with leaking roof as he neither has a wife nor children.
I am from the community, I know that the land belong to the blind man.
“Even before I started the building, I consulted elders in the area who also attested that the land belongs to the blind.
“Anybody laying claim to the land is probably doing so because the man is poor, blind and helpless,” he said.
Mr. Sylvester Okpe the eldest man in the community described the action of the person or persons who pulled down the house being built for the blind man as an abomination, insisting that the land belongs to the blind man.
“We condemn the action of whosoever is behind the demolishing of that house.
“We have started our investigation on this issue and any member of the community found guilty will be sanctioned.
“That land is part of the ancestral lands of the blind man as his forefathers also lived there.
“Any person who says that land doesn’t belong to the blind man is a liar and is doing that because the man is poor and blind, “he said.
When contacted the traditional ruler of the community HRH Igwe Chris Okwor said that he was not aware of any 2-bedroom being constructed for a blind man that was pulled down by any hired thugs.
He however said the land that two bedroom was being built belong to him.
“Let me tell you they are not building any house for the blind man, some people are using the pretence of building a house for the man to acquire my land,” he said.
By FELIX IKEM
Inclusivenews network
