The Executive Chairman of Etche Local Government Council, Chief Chima Boniface Njoku, has raised an alarm over the alleged invasion of Edegelem Community in Igbo Etche, Etche Local Government Area, by a man identified as Corporal Bright Chimezie and four other armed individuals.
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman, Dagogo Isaac in a statement said, the suspects reportedly stormed the community in an attempt to forcefully take over community land, firing gunshots and creating fear and panic among residents.
Preliminary investigations by local authorities revealed that Corporal Bright Chimezie is suspected to be impersonating a Nigerian Army personnel, as military formations within and around the area have reportedly confirmed that he is not a serving member of the Nigerian Army.
Further findings indicate that Chimezie is neither an indigene of Edegelem Community nor does he have any legal or customary claim to the disputed land.
It was also alleged that the four other armed men involved in the incident are soldiers currently deployed on security duty at Bogel Oil Services, located within the area.
Reacting to the development, Chief Njoku stressed that the Etche Local Government would not tolerate land grabbing, intimidation, or acts of lawlessness against its communities. He assured residents that all necessary measures would be taken to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the incident.
“Etche must be free from land grabbing and lawlessness,” the council chairman declared.
He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to safeguarding the lives, property, and ancestral lands of the people of Etche, adding that the local government would continue to collaborate with relevant security agencies to ensure peace, security, and justice in the area.
