Relief in Arochukwu as Force CID cracks down on notorious Land grabbers.

 .…As Obinna Nwaokolo, Augustine Igwe and Orie Nwankwo are now in police net.

After several police invitations and their refusal to honour same over a petition against them for  land grabbing, malicious damage, trespass, possession of dangerous weapons, use of forged documents to obtain by false pretense  and threatening the life of the Founder /CEO Bigmark Estates Ltd, Mr. Kalu Okoronkwo,  operatives of the Nigerian Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja  have apprehended three notorious individuals linked to illegal land acquisition schemes around Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.

The suspects, identified as Augustine Igwe, Obinna Nwafor and Orie Nwankwo, were arrested following a coordinated intelligence-led operation. The crackdown comes as part of the Force CID’s intensified efforts to combat organized crime and safeguard citizens’ property rights.

The suspects known for orchestrating forceful and fraudulent land takeovers within Amakofia Ututu community in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, have been taken into custody for further interrogation. Their activities have caused widespread hardship, displaced families, and hindered community growth, prompting the need for decisive action.

Responding to newsmen after the trio were taken into custody, Mr. Kalu Okoronkwo who is also the Publisher of The New Narrative Newspaper, said that the arrested persons and their cohorts now on the run have made life miserable for him and others from his community owing to their nefarious land speculation activities within that area. “These guys have made it impossible for me to even go to my country home as they have armed notorious gangs to eliminate me at any cost. They heavily paid one Samson Tite Okafor known as oji-egbe, (Gun Handler) Samuel Amah Kalu, Kalu Kalu Ogbonna, James Osuagwu, his elder brother Ndubuisi Osuagwu, Ifeanyi Nwosu, Onwuka Mechanic and many others to trail me from any location and all efforts to get them arrested have been abortive”, Okoronkwo said.

According to him  the said property situate along Amakofia-Amuvi road about five hectares and with Certificate of Occupancy according Section 6, of the Land Use Act of 19 78 with Survey No: AGE 3047/ABO15/2020 was rigorously contested in court in suit No: CC/AR/25/2008 and judgment was delivered in favour of his family in February 2012 without the plaintiffs appealing the judgment of the court which prompted  him to get the tittle for the land.

He said that for years, Obinna Nwaokolo whose father was former Surveyor General of Abia State leveraged on his father’s connections and built a reputation as a ruthless land grabber, using intimidation, forged documents, and violence to unlawfully seize properties from rightful owners. Explaining further, Okoronkwo said Igwe, one of the accused persons is deadlier than he appears in person as a teacher and senior citizen.

“My client who lives in the United States of America bought two plots of land from my late parents, buried their mum in the property and the Methodist Church, a parish Igwe was a leader conducted the burial and he participated fully. However, Igwe turned back and said he bought the land on behalf of Stephen Chijioke Ogbonna and John Iroabuchi. When my client fenced the property and erected a gate house in it. Igwe armed his gang, brought down the property overnight, even tried to exhume the corpse, inflicted injuries on the security men and has been evading police scrutiny till his eventual arrest by operatives of the Force CID, Abuja., Chijioke Ogbonna and John Iroabuchi who like Igwe had refused to honour police invitation and still on the run”.

Okoronkwo further alleged that one Orie Nwankwo is their spiritualist who goes around riverine communities to consult the gods on their behalf. He is from Ugwuogo community in Ututu, Arcochukwu LGA and has no direct link to the said property either as a buyer or seller. He has been in the fore front of all the dubious and fraudulent activities going on in the area.

As at today, these elements have defrauded unsuspecting buyers millions of naira and never gave them any property. The tracking and arrest of the three notorious land grabbers on that axis is reaffirmation of the gallant Nigerian Police Force’s commitment to eradicating the menace of land grabbing. It is a testimony to the fact that the Police are resolute in ensuring that perpetrators of such criminal acts face the full weight of the law. It is also a warning to others engaged in land-grabbing activities to desist from the ignoble act or face the full weight of the law.