People of Ezinano community in Awka South local government area of Anambra state have vowed not to cede their land to any body or group.
They declared they were ready to stake their lives defending the land which they said they inherited from their forefathers.
The land, according to them, was being claimed by people of Enugwu-Agidi Community in Njikoka Local Government Area in connivance with the Police.
The indigenes who marched in their scores at the weekend to inspect the land were however stopped by armed police operatives, who insisted they had ordered not to let anyone into the disputed land.
According to them, the policemen stationed on the land had suddenly opened fire and teargas on the indigenes, resulting to pandemonium, as some of the indigenes, including journalists who were to cover the protest scampered for safety.
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Although no casualty was recorded, but no fewer than 14 journalists escaped death by whiskers while four others sustained injury during the melee.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the incident, prominent member of the community, Kanayo Obidigbo, said police deployment to the area had stalled development of property on the land.
Obidigbo, who accused police authorities of complexity, said they had demonstrated apparent interest in the land, especially a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
He called on the Inspector General of Police, Egbetokun Olukayode to investigate the matter and order withdrawal of the operatives from the land.
He said: “We are here to inspect Agu Nawgu. This is a land that our forefathers won in conquest. It is a vast land of about 60 kilometers radius. We grew up to know this land and it has a 1949 survey plan by our fathers who were illiterate.
“They gave out the land to Enugwu-Agidi people on rent to be cultivating, but later our forefathers sent them packing when they stopped paying rent.
“The land in question belongs to Ezinano community of Awka, which has about 20 villages. Even the estates you see here belong to Awka people.
“The police presence on our land is unacceptable. The men were sent here by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, whose interest we do not know.
“They have stalled development in this site. I have a building here, but I can’t continue with work because of police presence in the area.
“You are all witnesses today how police were shooting at us, defenceless Awka indigenes. Yet they told the IGP they did not post operatives to our land.”
When contacted, Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye denied deploying any police operatives to the land.
He however failed to state who deployed the operatives to the land as alleged by the protesting indigenes.