Ebonyi, Victims Of Vanco Junction Demolition Exercise Lament, Cry For Help

Hundreds of victims displaced in the ongoing demolition exercise of over 20 residential houses, 3 modern shopping plaza, 4 commercial banks and other business properties have called on the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru to come to their aid and alleviate their suffering and economic hardship they are currently facing.

The Ebonyi State government through the State Ministry of Works had embarked on the construction of a flyover at the highbrow area of Vanco junction prompting the demolition of over 20 residential houses, buildings housing 4 banks, more than 7 ultramodern shopping plaza.

The State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Lebechi Mbam in an interview with Journalists said that the State Government decided to embark on the project to decongest the area and ensure easy vehicular and human movement.

He noted that the project is part of the present administration’s landmark project adding that the high level of traffic congestion in the area has become a state of worry which needs urgent government attention.

He maintained that for any meaning development to take place, some properties must give way adding that the construction of the flyover has already commenced.

But those displaced by the demolition expressed the regret that adequate notice was not given to them before the demolition exercise was carried out adding that many of them had already paid for their yearly rent before the one month notice was given by the State Government.

A widow, Mrs. Chinyere Uzor said: we have been rendered Homeless, we are currently living as Internally displaced persons, it was in February that we renewed our house rent, few weeks later, the landlord came and said that government brought a notice that everyone should remove his things from the buildings, that they want to construct flyover.

“Less than a month after, we saw bulldozer everywhere, so we had to start removing our things. The landlords started removing roofs, windows and doors. In fact many of us are now without a place to sleep. We had to park our properties under a staircase in another compound.

Another victims, Miss Patricia Igwe expressed the regret that since the demolition exercise she has been unable to secure another job as a sells girl. I work as a sells girl in one of the plaza, immediately the bulldozers landed, our boss told us to stop coming to work and more than 30 of us working at the plaza were relived of our duty without payment.

The 3 New generation Banks affected by the demolition have already dismantled all the facilities in the banks living the customers confused. It would be recalled that the State Government had through a radio announcement informed Teachers in the State who bank with the affected banks to open a new account with other banks to enable them receive their April salary.

It was also gathered that over 200 persons were thrown out of job , more than 100 families displaced and over 20 others relocated to the village following the demolition exercise.

The Victims appealled to the State Governor to ensure the speedy payment of compensation as many of the landlords maintained that they can only refund rents paid when they receive government compensation.

Meanwhile, Governor Francis Nwifuru has assured that adequate compensation will be paid to those whose property was affected by the on-going Construction of the fly over at the Vanco junction.