2 land in prison for attempted Land grab of Peace Mass Transit property

Two persons earlier arrested for the demolition of the property of Peace Mass Transit limited (PMT) have been remanded in prison custody.

The suspects were charged for conspiracy, malicious damage, and armed robbery.

Daily Insider gathered that some Staff of the Capital Territory Development Authority, (ECTDA) in connivance with some land grabbers, armed with guns and matchets, bulldozer and excavator, allegedly demolished the fence and buildings of PMT at Ibagwa-Nike. 

But the Chairman of ECTDA, Rt. Hon Uche Anya, reportedly denied any knowledge of the incident.

Pandemonium erupted at ECTDA, on Wednesday, as the staff of the agency scampered for safety to avoid being arrested by the police, following manhunt for suspected of the illegal demolition.

According to report, police allegedly from the force headquarter Abuja, stormed the agency to ascertain the rationale behind the demolished fence and building of one of the properties of PMT at Ibagwa-Nike, in Enugu East local government area of Enugu state.

According Insider, the chairman of ECTDA Uche Anya, denied given an order for the demolition, while other staff took to their heels to avoid being arrested.

Recall that ECTDA had in a similar manner demolished the fence of a property of the Nigeria Army in GRA Enugu which led to the chairman being dazed by the soldiers, his house smashed and the man whisked away to Abuja at late night after his police orderly was allegedly shot down in the commotion.

Anya was almost sacked when he maliciously demolished a-multimillion naira business premises which the Capital Territory boss said was disturbing his privacy because it was situated behind his property. 

Recall also that there was the controversial demolition of the property of the late Justice Stanley Nnaji, which the children of the late jurist alleged was a case of land grabbing by the chairman and others.

Daily Insider learnt that the men of force headquarters swooped on the agency, on Wednesday, arresting staff of the agency while some of the staff escaped.

Also allegedly wanted by the police is businessman and Enugu socialite, Chief Ben Alukwu, whose machines were allegedly used to execute the demolition.

“Some of the Ben Alukwu boys who went to the demolition scene to pick scraps have been arrested and are giving information to the police,” an insider disclosed.

Alukwu on his side was quoted to have said that he was only a contractor to the agency and couldn't moved equipment without an order.

Chairman of Peace Mass Transit limited, Dr. Sam Onyishi confirmed the destruction of his property, noting that it was an act of land grab by yet to be identified persons except for those already arrested.

The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe said he was not aware of the development but promised to find out.