…Threatens demolition of structures, prosecute offenders

Imo State Government says it has commenced processes of recovering its lands illegally acquired by some persons at different parts of the state.

It also warned that all structures erected on such lands would be demolished, while suspects involved in the illegal allocation and sale of such lands are to be prosecuted.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, and made available to The Guardian on Thursday.

The statement noted that the state government was acting on the previous warning and notices issued to the public to reclaim such lands unlawfully allocated.

While warning people to refrain from such acts, Nwaneri listed the locations affected as “Redemption Estates 1, 2, 3 and 4 belonging to the Imo Housing Corporation; Area P, New Owerri; Area T; Area K, Alaoma Layout; Paradise Layout, Ottamiri North; Ottamiri South, Naze Industrial Layout; Ogbaku Estate Layout, and other government layouts across the state.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor informed that enforcement would commence immediately, stressing that “fences or partitions found on such lands will be demolished without further recourse.”

The statement warned that those involved in the forgery of documents to perpetrate such acts would also be made to face the law accordingly, adding that “the exercise was aimed at protecting public assets, restoring order in land administration and safeguarding the interests of the law-abiding citizens.”

The statement hinted that its resolve was in sequel to its constitutional obligation of protecting the lives and property of Imo people.

The statement maintained, “Residents, prospective land buyers and developers have therefore been advised to verify the authenticity of land titles through the appropriate government agencies before entering into any land transactions, in order to avoid legal consequences arising from the recovery exercise.”