The indigenes of Ebenesi Community in Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, have protested against the planned demolition of ancestral homes to make way for a power line project.
The residents staged the protest on Tuesday at the Obi Ezenabo Traditional Centre, appealing to President Bola Tinubu and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene in the dispute involving the community and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
The protesters alleged that more than six elders had collapsed and died after their houses were marked for demolition. They also claimed that affected landlords were given 14 days to demolish their buildings or risk having them pulled down by the government, with the owners allegedly expected to bear the cost.
Chairman of Ebenesi Community, Chief Okechukwu Oraka, said the residents were not opposed to infrastructure development but objected to the demolition because no relocation arrangement had been provided for affected families.
Oraka also alleged that the power line route was diverted to Nnobi after the project had initially been planned to pass through other areas.
He said the community had occupied the area for more than 200 years and urged the authorities to consider an alternative route or construct the power lines underground.
The protesters, including youths and elderly residents, carried placards and chanted songs while calling for the project to be relocated or redesigned to prevent the destruction of residential buildings.
Representatives of affected villages, including Staley Izuegbu of Ifite Village, Bartholomew Ojukwu of Umuafor Village and the Secretary of Umuona Village, also appealed for an alternative arrangement.
An 81-year-old retired civil servant, Mrs Comfort Ngwudo, who spoke on behalf of residents above 80, urged the government to consider the impact of the planned demolition on elderly residents and families who have lived on the land for generations.
The protesters later took their demonstration to Awuda and Ngo quarters in Nnobi, as well as the palace of the traditional ruler, Igwe Nick Obi, and the residence of the President-General of Nnobi, Chief Sir Aloy Olubialu.
The traditional ruler, through his Palace Secretary, Ichie Obianumba Ajayiaku, and Olubialu commended the protesters for maintaining peace and assured them that their concerns would be communicated to the relevant authorities.
However, a top official of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Cletus Ohame, said on Wednesday that demolition notices had been duly served on the affected landlords.
Ohame said the area had been earmarked for the power line project for many years and described the project as part of infrastructural development.
The dispute therefore centres on the proposed power line route, with residents seeking relocation or an alternative route while authorities maintain that the affected area was previously designated for the project.
