Community in Aniocha South cries out, accuses non-indigenes of extorting developers

An appeal has gone to Delta State government to prevail on a group of non-indigenes resident at Isah-Ogwashi community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state who extort investors and developers in the area.

Speaking on the development, Iwedike Francis Utomi lamented the incessant harassment and extortion of developers by the syndicate whose activities are slowing down development in the community.

Utomi said despite the fact that the police have intervened in the matter by reading a riot act during a stakeholders’ meeting, the unrepentant extortionists, he alleged, had continued to cause pains on owners of the land.

The community leader recalled that the state government had long ago abolished collection of illegal development levy from developers, adding that “former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, in 2018, signed into law the bill tagged Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Bill 2018 criminalising the illegal and forceful collection of levies also known as ‘deve’ from public and private developers in the state.”

Utomi further said that those disturbing the developers were once given accommodation to settle down as farmers, wondering why visitors would take it upon themselves to take laws into their hands, thereby discouraging investors from developing the upcoming agrarian community.

While calling on investors to take advantage of the peace in the community to invest by dealing with rightful owners of the community, the leader urged the state government to apply the relevant extant law to bring sanity to the area since development levy has been outlawed.

Utomi, however, advised persons who derived joy in disturbing developers to turn a new leaf or face the wrath of the law as leadership of the community is not sleeping on the matter.

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