National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Chukwuma Okoro
The recent demolition activities in Onitsha South Local Government in Anambra State have targeted illegal structures and shanties along the River Niger bank, particularly along Niger Street in Fegge, Onitsha. This operation has potentially displaced over 4,000 residents in the area.
The demolition initiative, which began on Sunday, has led to the destruction of machine houses, stores, and sand beaches that were utilized by sand miners and traders in the vicinity. This action follows closely on the heels of a previous demolition that saw over 2,300 shops razed in the same area a month earlier.
Eyewitness reports indicate that the ongoing operation has forced around 4,000 sand miners and traders out of their businesses and homes in the affected area. Supervising the demolition was Emeka Orji, the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, who was accompanied by more than 15 operatives from the Anambra State Vigilante Service.
According to residents, Orji reiterated the state government’s determination to reclaim the land from its current occupants and remove illegal structures that mar the environment. He emphasized that the affected individuals had been warned to vacate the area beforehand, but many did not heed the warning seriously.
The affected sand miners and traders expressed their frustration, noting that the demolition had not only disrupted their livelihoods but also left them without homes. They voiced concerns about their uncertain future and the sudden loss of their means of sustenance.
