…As Rumuwosu Family Petitions Rivers CP
A culture of fear of possible crisis now pervades the Rumuokwurusi and Iriebe Communities, all in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State over the alleged invasion and forceful takeover of land allegedly belonging to Rumuwosu family of Rumuwokerebe community in Rumuokwurusi by certain persons from Iriebe community namely: Eze Jeremiah Worenwu, Chiefs Chigonum Ahihia and Franklin Elewa.
In a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the secretary of Rumuwosu family, Chief Bennet Wehere said their family does not share any boundary with Iriebe community to warrant any encroachment and, or land dispute.
According to him, Rumuwosu family only has boundaries with Rumuamadi, Rumuejekwu, Oro-ori, Rumuwele, Rumuchikwe and Rumuwogozor families and not Iriebe.
Lamenting the economic hardship the alleged land invasion has inflicted on them and their tenants, the chairman of Rumuwosu family, Chief Christian Wosu called on Gov Nyesom Wike, well meaning and public spirited persons and security agencies to wade into the matter to avoid a possible breakdown of law and order in the area.
However, the Rumuwosu family through their legal representative, Barr Umogbai has petitioned to the State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan to wade into the matter with a view to averting possible communal crisis the alleged unlawful acquisition of their land by the Iriebe people may cause.
In a petition titled: “Request for urgent intervention and investigation of a case of conspiracy to commit felony, forcible entry upon land, malicious damage to property, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, unwarranted harassment and intimidation of their kinsmen, the Rumuwosu family accused security operatives of illegally acting on the orders of the Iriebe people to stop them from entering and taking possession of their land.
The petition also itemized the rightful owners of the disputed land as Ojiowhor Njorbuenwu Agbaraka, Elder Wosu Adiele, Elder Chika Nde, Chief Isreal Ozuzabueze, Chief Christian Wosu and Chief Bennett Wehere being respectively, the Family Head, Principal Members/Elders, Family Chief, Family Chairman and Family Secretary of the Rumuwosu Family of Rumuwokerebe Community of Rumuokwurusi own, stressing that the parcels of land: Ekwu-Ihu and Ekwu Achi lying and situate in Rumuokwurusi town were bequeathed to them by their forebears and had belonged to them from time immemorial as their heritage in accordance with the native Ikwerre law and customs as applicable in Rumuokwurusi town.
The petition also stressed that the Rumuwosu had been previously farming on the said parcels of land and in April, 2014 partitioned the land among the individual family members consequent upon which every individual allotee has been exercising all rights of ownership and possession on their respective parcels.
The petition further said that about 23rd and 24th of May, 2020, while members of the Rumuwosu family were still observing the COVID-19 lockdown order as directed by the State government, Eze Jeremiah Worenwu of Iriebe and others allegedly backed up by some persons suspected as thugs and security operatives invaded the land, destroying their property including crops, economic trees and uncompleted buildings among others.
The lawyer to the Rumuwosu family, Barr. Umogbai in the petition claimed that all efforts made to enter and recover the said land were stopped by armed policemen allegedly hired and stationed at the place by the accused Iriebe people.
He prayed the State Commissioner of Police to urgently and dispassionately wade into the matter for amicable resolution of the issue.
He also alleged that the Iriebe people were planning to sell parts of the land to investors and used the opportunity to warn the geneal public against buying the land or any portion of it, saying anybody that is tricked into buying the land did so at their own risk.
The Rumuwosu family in the petition warned the Iriebe people to keep off the land in the interest of cordial relationship that had long existed between the two communities and desist from attempts to sell any portion of the land as the land had already been shared by their individual family members some of whom had sold their portions, saying “it is not in our character to sell lands previously sold.”
Efforts to reach the accused Iriebe people had not yielded any results at press time.
