No fewer than 400 occupants of residential buildings, market stores and plaza in Isuaniocha Community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, are currently facing threat of eviction, from the leadership of the community.
This followed a one-month eviction notice handed to them by the Isuaniocha Development Union on the 22nd of December, 2023, which will expire on the 22nd of January, 2024.
It was gathered that youths from the community had last week accosted the occupants of the properties, after their meeting, demanding that they vacate their homes and shops, which they were legal occupants, or face severe consequences if they fail to do so.
One of the occupants, who would rather not mention his name for fear of being attacked, said they are still in shock as to why they would be evicted in just one month when their rents were still running.
“Like me now, I am on a lease arrangement and my payment will expire in the next four years only to get this command.
“Where do I go to now? Where do I start?
“I paid my landlord in advance so that I can put up structures that I use to run my businesses. Where do they want me to run to? It is not easy for me and this is capable of ruining someone’s business,” he lamented.
Another occupant, revealed to our correspondent that the directive to vacate the place they were occupying did not come from their landlords, rather from the community, wondering how they would be evicted when they have neither owed rents not committed any offence to deserve such action.
“This is all shades of wrong and the innocent people are now the ones suffering from it.
“We are planning to enter January and made provisions on how to do our businesses. Some had gone to the point of borrowing and taking goods on credit so that when they sell, they will remit the money and now this one, how do we cope?
“If the community has a problem with our landlords, does it have to affect the over 400 tenants who are occupying their property legitimately? Why would we be at the receiving end of the hostilities we have no hand in,” he queried.
For an artisan who rented a space near the said area, Chima Igwe, it is high time Anambra State Government looked into the Isuaniocha crises to find lasting solution to it, as the problem has gone out hand.
According to him, the crisis has escalated and is now affecting non-indigenes doing their lawful businesses in the community.
“It is very urgent that government intervenes in Isuaniocha matter because it is now affecting even strangers.
“Most times, it would look like war zone where you see rival groups exchanging gunfire and many people will be injured. Even the businesses we are doing, we don’t have enough time to sell because once those shootings start, everyone will pack so as not to be gunned down.
”Government needs to wade into this matter immediately to calm this situation or else, very soon, everyone will have to desert the town,” he lamented.
When contacted, one of the owners of the properties, Mr George Okoye regretted that a lot of impunities are ongoing in their community and wondered how such orders could be enforced in a state like Anambra where there is a government.
He noted that it is rather absurd that the community will be the one issuing quit notice to his tenants instead of himself, the rightful owner.
According to him, he is being victimized by some group of people in the community, who are bent on perpetrating all kinds of illegaligalities in the community.
”Today, in this modern age, they excommunicated me and I am seeking refuge in another man’s land and now they are sacking all my tenants.
“Has it gone to the point where they will chase away strangers in the community, where we have our own people in other people’s lands, because they want to target me and my brothers.
“The worst of it all is that the police and other security agencies are providing them with protection.
“I bet you that if they hear this my interview with you now, they will go and raze down my house.
“That is why people are not speaking up because of the terror they will unleash on them if they dare speak. Look at it and judge it,” he cried.
However, when our correspondent reached out to the acting President-General of Isuaniocha, Mr Fred Egunwa, he confirmed that the eviction notice was because the people involved were occupying the properties of persons on the wanted list of the government, explaining that the community are not asking them to leave Isuaniocha, but to leave the properties they are occupying.
According to him, the community issued the notice so as to avoid the wrath of the government.
“The people that own the properties are on the wanted list of the government and the community met and agreed that those occupants be made to leave in case of maybe, the government comes one day and begins to take them by surprise. So, it is for their own safety.
“The occupants are free to go any other place to rent properties because we are not asking them to leave Isuaniocha.
”These people are terrorists because government has declared them so.
“The people that own these properties have consistently invaded and attacked police and other security men deployed to maintain peace in our community.
“For over five years now, Isuaniocha has been in crisis and now we are taking steps to find lasting solution to the crisis.
“Now, because they have properties in Isuaniocha where they collect rentage, they have enough money which they use to hire gunmen to come and attack security men guarding the community.
“So, the community agreed that we can not allow them to continue that way and we said, let those people vacate the places, so we will know how they can mobilize the funds with which they cause trouble in Isuaniocha ,” he said.
Egunwa however said they recently held a meeting to see how to review the notice to see how it would be easier for them.
As at the time of filing this report, some occupants of the properties were making arrangement on how to relocate to nearby plaza and buildings to avoid being cut in the crossfire of the crisis.
