Benue community, commissioner differ over land

ACHUSA community, an outskirt of Makurdi, Benue State capital, has threatened to institute a legal action against the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. John Tondo, over alleged attempt to take over their land through illegal procedure contrary to the provisions of the Land Use Act Section 28 of 1990.

The community, in a petition signed by its legal solicitors, Samuel Nguekwagh & Co., Amber Chambers, Makurdi, accused the commissioner of colluding with a traditional ruler in the area and private surveyors to deprive the people of the area of their traditional homes, which they had lived on for more than 60 years before the Land Use Act was enacted in 1978.

But in his reaction, Tondo told The Guardian that the community lied when the people said he avoided dialogue and referred to the December 23, 2011, January 2012 and other meetings where he tried to sort out the matter with them to no avail.

He said the area in dispute was situated within the 14-kilometre radius under which the government was supposed to administer land on behalf of the people and accused the community members of involving themselves in illegal land deals.

According to the petition, which was copied to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner of Police, Director State Security Service (SSS) and the traditional chiefs in the area, the community said the land was surveyed during the regime of the first civilian governor, Mr. Aper Aku and later reviewed upon, which developments and settlements in the area are based.

They added that majority of the inhabitants were issued with Certificates of Occupancy and Rights of Occupancy based on effective planned layouts, which have not been revoked by any succeeding administration in the state.

While describing the planned re-survey of the land as a broad day robbery, the legal counsel to the community said they were suspicious of the action of the Land and Survey commissioner, whom he said, had refused to embrace dialogue with the community through their legal counsel as earlier agreed to ensure peace and harmonious existence in the area.

The community is, therefore, saying that if the government actually wants to acquire the land, it should first honour the agreement over Achusa Phase 1 and provide amenities as agreed upon, as well as dialogue with the community in the overall interest of justice and fairness.