From: Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, on Wednesday, absolved the state government of any wrongdoing in the recent destruction of ‘illegal’ buildings at an estate in Nkwelle Ezunaka community in Oyi council area of Anambra State.

He justified the action, pointing out that the members of the public had earlier been warned to steer clear from the government’s land.

The reaction of the governor was coming on the heels of attacks being unleashed on his administration in the media over the action. This was even as he also refuted allegations of collecting the sum of N200,000 from each landlord numbering over 100 in order to spare their buildings.

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Speaking on behalf of the governor in his country home of Umuawulu in Awka South council area, Managing Director/Superintendent General of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, Chief Kenneth Okonkwo, disclosed that some hoodlums had beaten up and chased away some government officers who had gone there in the past to warn them from selling the land belonging to the state government.

“The land in Nkwelle-Ezunaka was acquired by the government in 1934 for agricultural purposes and all compensation dully paid to the community.”

“The agricultural business has been going on until recently when the Nwelle-Ezunaka youths moved in there with pump action guns and other dangerous weapons and chased away agricultural extension workers, maimed them, vandalised their properties and destroyed all the agricultural buildings” he added.