Residents of the Oginigba Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area have raised concerns about the alleged destruction of newly constructed market structures by individuals attempting to seize control of the land. The Chairman of Oginigba Market, Sir Kingsley Chinda, told our reporter that instead of enforcing a court order, the police allegedly connived with the Federal Lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, to hire thugs to demolish the structures built by traders just a month ago.
Sir Kingsley Chinda further alleged that the police, rather than maintaining order, aided their agents in demolishing all the structures that had been erected in the market. He explained that the construction was funded through personal contributions and community resources. According to him, over twenty million naira had been spent on building these structures, which included stalls for goats, cows, and other livestock. He stated that all the structures had been destroyed, blaming Oke Chinda and his agents for the act.
The Chairman also cautioned the police against taking sides in the land dispute, emphasizing that the community would not rest until justice is served. He noted that the land in question spans over 250 plots and has significant ancestral importance.
“We have pleaded with the police: if they do not want to manage the market dispute fairly, they should refrain from taking sides. This is our ancestral market, and an individual wants to take it over—a land covering more than two hundred and fifty plots. Where on Earth is this done?” he questioned.
It is worth recalling that the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued an order last week prohibiting Hypercity Retail Limited and Federal Lawmaker Kingsley Chinda from entering the Oginigba land, which houses the contested market, pending the resolution of a motion on notice.
