The people of Owa-Ekei, a community in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, have dragged the state government before a High Court sitting in Asaba, in order to challenge the operations of the state ministry of Lands and Survey in the community, which they alleged have destroyed their ancestral shrines and other historical traditional values.
The plaintiffs in suit 11/106/02/DTSHC/, are also praying the court to compel the government to compensate them for the loss, contending that the state government refused to tender apology and a pay compensation of N50billion within 21 days ultimatum issued to it, before the suit was instituted.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Dan Okenyi, has dispelled all allegations against him which alleged he masterminded the operation, saying that officials who are currently working under the mandate to recover government lands and property are merely carrying out their civic duties in Owa-Ekei community.
Okenyi noted that it was not the business of the officials to know whether there were shrines or not in government lands.
“There is no cause for alarm, we shall meet in court when the time comes” he added.
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