Tension is building up in Umueye community of Oyigbo Urban in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State over a circular given to property owners by indigenous youths of the community on a planned demolition of structures in the area for road construction.
A circular obtained by our correspondent and signed by Elder Daniel Ogbuji, the Chairman of Umueye community and two others, directed concerned residents to remove their properties or risk demolition.
The association said the demolition was to give way for a road construction to be carried out by the Rivers State Government in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Our correspondent learnt that some of the residents, who were ignorant of the land use act, have started removing their structures out of panic.
Some of the residents who spoke with our correspondent confirmed that they received circulars from the group, directing them to remove their structures.
A resident of High Tension area, Policarp Jonna, said he was served notice to remove his building for a proposed road project.
Jonna wondered why youths of a community would usurp the powers of government and threaten to pull down properties, under the guise of road construction.
Another resident, Chikwere Onoka, called on the chairman of Oyigbo Local Government and the Rivers State Government to step into the matter to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Another resident who pleaded anonymity said one of the youths who brought the circular to his house said that if he could part with N100,000, his house would not be demolished.
Inquires by our correspondent from the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and the NDDC revealed that both agencies were not aware of the proposed road construction.
A source from the NDDC told our correspondent that the commission did not award any recent road contract in any part of Oyigbo.
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