The Hausa Community at the Trailer Park in Eleme Local government area says they have been illegally rendered homeless after a demolition exercise in that area carried out by the Rivers State government.
The Chief of the Hausa Community in the Local government area, Al Shittu Dahiru told our correspondent that homes and shops of over fifteen thousand residents who live and do legal business at the Trailer park Eleme have been displaced without any reason.
He said for thirty- seven years of its existence,the Hausa community has not recorded any criminal activities in that area to deserve such treatment.
” We were here when the Eleme Local Government Chairman came with a caterpillar and said he was sent by the State Governor to demolish our houses here .
” More than 15,000 people including our children, families were displaced and for one week, 7 days it has been raining and we have been under the rain with our trailers. For 37 years, we have been here, this is trailer park, I have not seen any Hausa man with handcuff or with gun who had been harrassed by the police for stealing.
” We appeal to his Excellency,the Governor to come to our aid and help the over 15,000 persons displaced by the demolition exercise”.he said.
A widow whose property was affected, Ola Paul-Kwe said her late husband’s grave, lock-up shops and residential area demolished in the exercise were legally approved by the Eleme Local government area and was not marked for demolition, and wondered why it was demolished.
The Widow Mrs Ola Paul-Kwe called on the Rivers State government to wade into the matter and restore her sanity.
” Even my dwelling place, my late husband’s grave was demolished.As a landlord,Iam now a tenant.I need everybody to stand up for me Iam a widow. My late husband,Paul Shuaibu bought this land from Eleme people with documents to back it up. Iam shattered.
“You know what it means to demolish blocks,blocks of about 150 shops, that has about 60 residential buildings legally approved by Eleme Local Government Area. My late husband bequeathed that place for me so that I can feed myself and my children,but now the government of Rivers State, the Eleme Local Government has rendered me useless.I don’t know where they want us to start from ” she said.
Some residents and business operators at the Eleme Trailer Park whose homes and shops were demolished called on governor Wike to visit the area and rescue them from further sufferings.
Over correspondent who visited the area said only the mosque structure was seen in the area as all other block building were brought down.
