Over 1,000 women of the Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested against their traditional ruler, Igwe Max Ike Oliobi, and the leadership of the community town union over alleged “land grabbing” and “highhandedness.”

The women threatened that if the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, does not urgently intervene and address their challenges, they will have no other option but to embark on a naked protest against the community leadership.

The women stormed the State Government House along the Enugu-Onitsha motorway in Awka on Wednesday with placards calling on the state government to end the activities of the traditional ruler and the town union executive, adding that if the leadership did not stop selling the community land, the actions might trigger a communal war in no time.

The placards read, ‘The current leadership of Nimo Town Union Development must go; Nimo Town Union Leadership is our subject and therefore has no right to sell or negotiate our land, among others.’

Addressing journalists shortly after the protest, Mrs Ifeoma Ezeozue, who spoke on behalf of the women, said the protest was against the way and manner in which their ancestral farmlands are being sold out indiscriminately without future consideration.

Ezeozue accused the leaders of turning the community into their personal property and alleged that the leaders were also using security personnel to harass and intimidate anybody, especially the youths who spoke against their orders.

According to her, Nimo accession farm lands are being sold out indiscriminately without our notice. We no longer go to farms because there is no more land to farm.

They want to force us into prostitution. They have declared sit-at-home in the Nimo community because we now wake up every day and stay idle at home without any engagement. Farming is one of our major sources 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 the Nimo community, Ezeozue appealed.

Responding on behalf of the Government, 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.

It was gathered that the protest letter was warmly received by the SSG shortly after the event. (Nigerian Tribune)

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