The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Chijioke Ihunwo, has dismissed allegations that he orchestrated the demolition of properties in Unity Estate, Eneka, Rivers State, calling the claims baseless and politically motivated.
Responding to accusations from affected landlords and residents, Ihunwo stated that the demolition exercise, which took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, was not carried out under his directive.
His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Amadi Eze, released a statement clarifying that the disputed land has been the subject of legal contention between the Rumunduru and Eneka communities.
According to Ihunwo, a court ruling recently favoured the Rumunduru community, leading to the enforcement action.
He maintained that the demolition was strictly handled by the Rumunduru leadership and had no involvement from his office.
However, affected landlords have contested this claim, asserting that they were never served any legal notice before their properties were brought down.
Witnesses report that heavily armed men escorted bulldozers into the estate, reducing houses and fences to rubble.
Furthermore, residents were allegedly barred from recording videos of the incident, raising concerns about due process.
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Adding to their grievances, landlords and tenants claim they were asked to pay N300,000 in cash as a “registration fee,” which they believe to be an extortion scheme under the guise of legal enforcement.
As tension mounts, the landlords have called on Rivers State Governor , to intervene, urging human rights organizations and the general public to bring attention to what they describe as an injustice.
Despite the allegations, Ihunwo has stood firm in his denial, urging the public to disregard the accusations as an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
He reiterated that his office played no role in the enforcement and that the matter remains a community dispute being handled by the appropriate legal channels.
As the situation unfolds, affected residents continue to seek governmental intervention to address their concerns and ensure their rights are protected.