Nigerian military leaders have told people living near their army base to stop building houses on their land. The army owns property around Ekehuan Barracks near Benin City and residents keep putting up new buildings there. Captain Chinonso Oteh speaks for the army and says they might tear down these illegal structures soon. Local community chiefs from Oghede and Iyanomo areas refuse to follow rules they agreed to before. The army tried many times to solve this problem peacefully but nothing worked.
The communities took the army to court earlier but lost their case because they had no legal right to the land. Army officials agreed to settle the matter outside court to keep peace between soldiers and civilians. Community leaders promised to stop taking military land but broke their word right away. These chiefs started selling army property to hotel owners and house builders for money. Many new buildings went up right where soldiers practice shooting and train for war.
The army worries that land thieves will try to steal their entire base if this continues. Some people even made fake papers claiming the military gave up the land to trick buyers. Captain Oteh reminded everyone that the army bought this property legally back in 1966. The state government gave them official ownership papers on April 26, 1994 to prove they control the area. Military commanders promise to protect their base and stop anyone who tries to intimidate them or spread lies about land ownership.
The communities took the army to court earlier but lost their case because they had no legal right to the land. Army officials agreed to settle the matter outside court to keep peace between soldiers and civilians. Community leaders promised to stop taking military land but broke their word right away. These chiefs started selling army property to hotel owners and house builders for money. Many new buildings went up right where soldiers practice shooting and train for war.
The army worries that land thieves will try to steal their entire base if this continues. Some people even made fake papers claiming the military gave up the land to trick buyers. Captain Oteh reminded everyone that the army bought this property legally back in 1966. The state government gave them official ownership papers on April 26, 1994 to prove they control the area. Military commanders promise to protect their base and stop anyone who tries to intimidate them or spread lies about land ownership.
