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PORT HARCOURT – Aggrieved landlords of Cinnamon, Lemon, and Iroko Drives within Cedarwood Garden Estate in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, have raised alarm over an alleged illegal demolition threat of their properties from the Chief Executive Officer of Delta Technology and Property Limited, Mr. Stephen Nyegwa. The landlords insisted that Nyegwa’s actions have no legal backing, hence the move is unlawful and provocative. They however called for the urgent intervention of the Rivers State Government and other relevant security agencies to prevent what they described as looming crisis. The landlords accused the police of complacency, alleging that despite their several petitions to the state command, nothing concrete had done to salvage the situation. They warned that the situation could escalate into a full-blown conflict if left unchecked. Speaking with journalists on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Mr. Maduabuchi Chioma, one of the affected landlords, expressed shock that their properties were marked for demolition, challenging Nyegwa to provide his legal backing, emphasising that they would tender their unreserved apology if the perpetrators can prove that they are acting in accordance with the law. He said, “We are here this morning to call on the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police to respond to our petitions concerning the illegal land grabbing activities happening in the estate. “Again to let the members of the public know that the falsehood being circulated by one Mr Stephen Nyegwa is not true. “We woke up one morning and saw inscriptions on our walls, marked for demolition by court order. There is no court order placed on our walls. What we saw was phone numbers placed on our wall. “If Mr Stephen can prove to us by providing court order, we the entire landlords apologise to him. Another landlord in Cinnamon drive, Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, expressed shock that some of those who sold lands to them, have turned around to attempt to grab them through the back door. He said, “I did not buy land from Apostle. I heard he is having problems with Apostle. I bought my land from Anderson. I am surprised that even the people we bought land from are joining them to grab our land. Victor Okezie Esq, also a landlord in the estate challenged those attempting to demolish their properties to paste the court order empowering them. Okezie stated, “We woke up one morning and saw an inscription on our walls and our gates, marked for demolition by court order asking us to call a particular number. “Ordinarily we would have chosed to ignore it but we became curious. If you have a court order, bring the court order that says our building should be demolished. Paste it on our walls or gates.We will take the necessary actions and know what to do. “Is unfortunate that even in this time people will be doing things like this. Every step should be taken to call them to order. If he has court order let him produce it. He will have our attention if he produce a valid, subsisting court order. Rita Ibifaka, a landlady in the estate insisted that inscriptions on their walls and gates without the backing of the law is provocative. She said, “What is going on is bad. You cannot just come and damage our fences without a court order,is not proper”. Another landlord, Engr Jack Chibundu who called on the security agencies to intervene, boasted that he cannot be intimidated by the illegal activities of criminals. He said, “My house was marked for demolition without any court order by land grabbers. “I call on the Rivers State Government and Inspector General of Police to call them to order. This is how crisis start.I bought the land legally and nobody can intimidate me.” Another landlord of the estate, Chinedu Igweze, expressed worry that despite the alarm raised by the landlords, the police is yet to launch an investigation into the unfolding conflict. “We are not dragging land with anybody. We have done our investigation. There is no court order. Let the statutory Authority ask him to produce the court order,” Igweze said. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Cinnamon drive, Gbenga Oladapo, had challenged Nyegwa to produce the court order that has empowered him to mark properties of legitimate landlords for demolition. He said, “I want to say all we are asking for is for Stephen Nyegwa to produce the court order. We are not in court with anybody for ownership of land. “What we are interested in is that he came to mark our buildings for demolition. We want to know where he got the court order from. “Did he get the order from court of appeal? Did he get the order from high court? If he can give us a valid court order that empowers him to demolish our building from court of competent jurisdiction we will all beg him and do publication in three national dailies. “Anybody who comes to somebody’s house and inscribe, marked for demolition without order of court, the person is a land grabber. “We are ready to go to court. He is a land grabber. He should stay away from Cinnamon, lemon and Iroko drives. Until now no investigation, no invite by the Police”. Responding, Stephen Nyegwa in an interview on Tuesday 28, October, 2025, denied being a land grabber. He insisted that the land in question was the share of his mother’s kitchen which rightfully belongs to him. The police in Rivers State had denied being complicit in the conflict, stating that the police is working round the clock to amicably resolve the impasse. Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer of Rumudomaya Special Area had been drafted to ascertain the bone of contention. She however revealed that the police is prohibited from involving in civil matters pertaining to land disputes, pledging that the Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, will always be professional and unbiased in their duties.
