Enugu Airport Invasion: Emejulu’s Failed Demand For 15 Million Naira Each Caused Demolition-Landlords
Owners of landed property adjacent to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu that was demolished recently by one Arch John Jerry Emejulu, have cried out to the federal government to come to their rescue.
The landlords who made the call while narrating their ugly experience to newsmen on Saturday, said Arch Emejulu led armed thugs to destroy their property after his failed demand of getting N15million each from them.
Speaking on behalf of the landlords in the neighbourhood, Mr Basil Madueke, whose duplex was destroyed, said it was the third time the perpetrator came with armed thugs to demolish their property.
Madueke who led the newsmen round the affected structures stressed that Emejulu’s level of intimidation and brutality was unbearable.
He added that Emejulu had been terrorising the neighbourhood, claiming to be the rightful owner of the entire area including the Enugu Airport land, which was also affected by his destruction exercise.
Madueke explained that he, just like most other landlords, rightfully acquired their lands from Best Shelter Limited and have the necessary documents backing them up.
“This is the third time Mr J. J Emejulu is destroying my property. And I have all the evidence, both pictures and video to back up my claims. So, I call upon the federal government to take immediate action because I demand that this very man should pay for the damage he has caused me and other affected landlords. “It is not only me, he destroyed many other properties, which I can take you around to see. He came with almost 30 armed thugs, which I know one of them called Biggy. They stole all our property, all our belongings and made away with so many things in our houses”, Madueke narrated.
Also narrating his experience, a tenant of one the affected buildings, Mr Kingsley Obiora, said that they woke up in the morning on that fateful day and were shocked to see touts pulling down the fence of their compound.
Obiora, who expressed sadness at the incident, added that the armed thugs came into their apartments, destroyed other parts of the building and carted away their personal belongings.
Another landlord, Mr Joshua Akachukwu Otu, gave a similar narrative, describing the incident as embarrassing as he acquired his property legally.
The minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika had earlier in the week, while assessing level of damage done by , the invader,vowed that government would deploy all legal means to “deal maximally with the perpetrator”.
Meanwhile, Emejulu who had been living in his own house at Eziokwe street, Community Estate, Trans-Ekulu, allegedly built on waterways causing havoc on the lives and property of residents of the area, has begun to have shares in the experience of his victims, as the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, a few days ago, pulled down the illegal structure.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
