The people of Chokocho Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the council chairman, Chief Chima Boniface Njoku, for intervening in an alleged land-grabbing incident in the Umuebere area.
Dagogo Isaac, Chief Press Secretary to the Etche Local Government Council, said the commendation was made during a thank-you visit to Njoku at the council secretariat in Okehi, where the community praised his prompt response to the activities of suspected land grabbers who allegedly invaded the area and attempted to dispossess residents of their farmlands.
In an address presented by the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Mr ThankGod Nworgu, the community said the chairman’s intervention helped protect the area and its residents.
The community also applauded Njoku for resolving a longstanding dispute between Umuchoko Chokocho and Umuwei Community in Igwuruta, noting that the intervention had restored peace and improved relations between the communities.
It further commended the ongoing development projects at the council secretariat and appealed to the chairman to improve electricity infrastructure in Chokocho, which it described as a major commercial hub in Etche.
Responding, Njoku said his administration would continue to address land disputes and protect residents from the activities of land grabbers.
He warned that land grabbing would not be tolerated in Etche and thanked the women of Umuebere for supporting the council’s efforts to curb the practice and maintain peace.
The chairman also cautioned residents against indiscriminate sand dredging, warning that the activity could have adverse environmental consequences for their communities.
