Delta Goes Tough on Land Grabbers, Resumes Demolition of Illegal Structures in Asaba

As Delta State Government continues demolition of illegal structures built on Dennis Osadebay University, Anwai-Asaba land around 74 Road, the Chairman Taskforce on recovery of government lands, Chief Frank Omare, Friday, said government was after land grabbers who misled innocent citizens in buying government lands.

Chief Omare who was flanked by members of the Taskforce, disclosed this in an interview with journalists, said the property owners had enough notice since the last demolition at Musa Camp Asaba.

He warned that all illegal occupants in government lands across the state would soon have their day and urged them to as a matter of urgency begin to evacuate their valuables as government was out to recover all lands belonging to it across the state.

He ruled out compensations for the property owners, saying they ought to pay the government for the cost of demolition.

He said: “We are still in Asaba axis. We will go to Warri, Ughelli, Isoko, Agbor, Patani, Ibusa and other areas. We are coming to all those places because Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has directed that we recover all government lands across the state.

“From the beginning various government agencies told them the land belongs to government but they refused since Kefas, Ibori, Uduaghan, Okowa and now it’s Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.

“We are looking for the land grabbers and those community leaders who have misinformed and misled the less privileged in this state. How can you sell government land?

“A lot of them have ran away but government is coming after them because the suffering is too much as a result of greed of some people but we cannot fold our hands because government is government.

“It is not about Governor Sheriff Oborevwori or Chief Frank Omare but the defense of government policies. It is not targeted at anybody.

“They sold government land and it is a crime. Go to Warri and see what is happening. How can people build on top of the road?

“Dear Deltans ask well any where you are whether the property is on government land. Just remove your valuables because government will soon get there.”

On allegations that government had given the property owners one year extension, Omare said it was a mere propaganda, mischief and blackmail.

“Times are hard and what the populace are going through, it is not the intention of government to make them suffer but the land grabbers who felt that they are community leaders and youths selling their lands, government is coming after them.

“We tendered government gazette and Certificate of Occupancy before the public and you cannot have a counter Certificate of Occupancy.

“We are doing what is right as a government and we are going to be very firm and we won’t look at faces. There are people in government collaborating with the land grabbers but we also dealing with them,” he said.