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Fresh Tension in Lugbe as CRD Residents Accuse River Park Estate of Encroachment
Fresh tension has erupted in the CRD community of Lugbe, Abuja, following allegations by residents that agents linked to River Park Estate invaded the area with suspected thugs and workers in an attempt to take possession of undeveloped plots whose ownership is disputed.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, reportedly involved the deployment of workers to commence fencing around some undeveloped plots, despite an ongoing court case over ownership of land in the area.
Residents alleged that the latest development followed weeks of activities by agents of Paulo Homes Limited, owners of River Park Estate, including surveying and mapping portions of land around the community.
The residents accused the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Paulo Homes Limited, Paul Odili, of laying claim to undeveloped plots bordering River Park Estate. They said they had repeatedly demanded documentation establishing the company’s claim to the affected land.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and no response from Odili or Paulo Homes Limited was contained in the account provided by the residents.
According to the community, litigation involving Paulo Homes Limited and Houses for Africa Limited over ownership of some of the disputed land is pending before the court.
Residents also claimed that further development within the disputed area had been suspended following an intervention by the Federal Capital Territory authorities pending the resolution of outstanding issues.
They alleged that Odili had recently approached the community over a proposed Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ensuring peaceful coexistence in the disputed area, but that residents declined the proposal and opted to continue pursuing their claims through the courts.
The situation reportedly escalated on Thursday when about 10 policemen arrived in the community alongside workers and other individuals.
Chairman of the CRD Residents Association, Stanley Nwaokike, told journalists on Friday that residents became concerned after noticing the presence of policemen accompanied by men allegedly carrying machetes, clubs and other objects, as well as masons and labourers preparing to commence fencing.
Nwaokike said residents approached the policemen to ascertain their mission and were informed that they were there to maintain law and order while workers carried out the fencing.
“If not for the maturity of residents of the community, the situation could have degenerated into a full crisis,” Nwaokike said.
He said the community had previously reported alleged incursions into the area to the police in Lugbe and had also petitioned the FCT Minister and the Federal Capital Development Authority over activities on the disputed land.
“We are using this opportunity to again call on the Minister, the FCDA and the National Assembly to intervene and call Mr Odili and River Park to order to avoid the matter escalating into a full crisis,” he said.
Another resident, Azuka Okonkwo, described the development as disturbing and called for urgent intervention by the FCT authorities and the police.
“Another invasion of our community by hoodlums allegedly sponsored by the owners of River Park Estate is agonising to our families,” Okonkwo said.
“The FCT Minister and other relevant authorities, including the police, should do something urgently to stop the situation from degenerating into a major crisis.”
Another resident, Michael Aitanu, who said he witnessed the arrival of the policemen on Thursday, questioned the involvement of uniformed officers in a land dispute that is already the subject of litigation.
Aitanu said the community expected all parties to respect the legal and administrative processes surrounding the disputed property rather than take unilateral action that could heighten tension.
Following complaints by residents, another team of policemen was reportedly deployed to the community to restore calm.
Residents said some of the men accompanying the workers fled before the arrival of the police, while four were subsequently arrested and taken to the Lugbe Police Station.
They, however, alleged that some of the workers and their escorts later returned to the area after the police team departed.
The CRD Residents Association called on the FCT Administration, FCDA, police and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently and ensure that all parties maintain the status quo while the ownership dispute is resolved through lawful processes.
As of the time of filing this report, Paulo Homes Limited, River Park Estate and the police had not publicly responded to the specific allegations surrounding Thursday’s incident.
