Hundreds of residents in Ifa Ikot Okpon, a community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have been left homeless following the demolition of 182 buildings deemed illegal structures on government land.
The demolitions took place on December 19, 2024, by the state Ministry of Lands and Town Planning, leaving families unable to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays in their homes.
The village head of Ifa Ikot Okpon, Etteidung Uwem Tom Udo, expressed disbelief over the demolitions, insisting that the state government had never acquired land from the community. He challenged the government to provide any official documentation to support its claim of land acquisition, arguing that the government’s actions had not followed legal procedures.
Uwem Tom Udo emotionally recalled how the owners of the demolished buildings were caught off guard when bulldozers arrived to tear down their homes and remove property worth millions of naira. “As we speak now, 182 families have nowhere to live after their houses were demolished,” he lamented.
The traditional ruler questioned the government’s public interest in the land and urged the Akwa Ibom State government to provide clarity and compensation for the displaced residents.
The community leaders have taken the matter to court, seeking N600 million in compensation for the land and the destroyed buildings. They are also demanding that the government engage state estate valuers to determine the compensation for the demolished properties. The court hearing for the case is scheduled for February 11.
