A Press Statement Presented By The Managing Director/Superintendent General Of Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade Chief Kenneth Okonkwo.

Good day gentle men of the press. The attention of the Anambra State Government and the Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Chief Kenneth Okonkwo have been drawn to a malicious, baseless and unfounded report that has been going viral on the internet in the recent weeks over the activities of OCHA Brigade at Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area and the defunct International Airport Land at Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area.

Ordinarily, Government would have ignored the baseless report, but for record purposes and to ensure that Ndi Anambra are not misled, we deemed it necessary to make the following clarifications:

OCHA Brigade is an Agency set up by the current State Government to ensure that Anambra is Clean and Healthy as well as instil discipline, orderliness in the State and furthermore to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of illegal revenue collectors recovery of state government properties. The creation of the Agency was backed by a Law passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly.

The Management of OCHA Brigade received complaints that certain unscrupulous elements have encroached on the Anambra State Government lands in Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Trans-Nkisi, Akpaka forest and Oba defunct international Airport and have erected illegal structures of various kinds in the aforementioned lands.

The land at Nkwelle-Ezunaka was acquired by the Government in 1934 for farm settlement (agricultural purposes) and all compensation dully paid to the community. The agricultural business has been going on, until recently when the Nkwelle-Ezunaka Youths moved in there with pump action guns and other dangerous weapons and chased away agric extension workers, maimed them, vandalised their properties and destroyed all the agricultural buildings.

Staff of the Office of the Surveyor General went there and they were beaten up and chased away, Physical Planning Officers went there and they were also chased away and the people continued to sell the land and erect illegal structures with impunity in spite of the repeated warnings by the State Government through the Media.

All efforts made by the Anambra State Government, to stop them as well as all efforts made for peaceful resolution proved abortive. The State Government set up a Joint Land Recovery Task Force which was headed by Chief Kenneth Okonkwo, the Managing Director/Superintendent General of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade to recover Government land which had been encroached on.

Ndi Anambra and members of the general public who may wish to buy lands in these Areas: Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Trans-Nkisi, Akpaka forest and Oba defunct international Airport are hereby advised to go to the State Ministry of Lands to verify and ensure that it is not Government land before doing so in order not to fall victim as the miscreants will continue to sell and defraud the unsuspecting members of the public.

It is regrettable that some miscreant youths in the aforementioned communities have decided on their own to earn their living by illegal selling and reselling of government lands within their community.

As a Law Enforcement Agency, the Management of the Brigade sent warning letters to the dissidents to stop the erection of illegal structures forth with but to no avail. The Agency in collaboration with other Security Agencies as empowered by Law moved to the aforementioned areas to instil discipline and sanity and prevent further exploitation of the people by the cabal which thrives on lawlessness.

It is pertinent to State categorically that the Agency has never asked anybody for any gratifications contrary to the false publication on the online media and can never ask for such in discharging its lawful duties.

Ndi Anambra are hereby called upon to disregard the frivolous publication as it lacks merit, fairness and objectivity in all ramifications.

The people of Nkwelle-Ezunaka and Oba are as well advised to go about their normal business and develop their genuine lands as they wish to, because there is no cause for alarm.

Those involve in these crimes have long acknowledged their wrong doing and are working out peaceful resolution through their PG, Chairman of their landlord association. They are willing to amend their ways.

The Government of His Excellency Chief Dr. Willie Obiano is ever committed and determined to ensuring the protection of lives and properties of Ndi Anambra, as well as creating an enabling environment for businesses and talents to thrive in an atmosphere devoid of lawlessness.

The Governor will continue to fight for and protect the collective interest of Ndi Anambra even in the face of the upcoming election. The standard is simply to do the right thing.

The State Government is aware that these miscreants will continue to foment troubles and paddles lies against the administration. We have zero tolerant for criminals and criminalities and will continue to fight them despite their rumours.

The Obiano administration will continue to lead the State to the path of economic recovery and emancipation in order to build a State that will be conducive and suitable for today’s inhabitants and as well be beneficial to her future generations.

Anambra adigo nma, nyee aka ka odiwanye mma. Impunity, Lawlessness and crime have no place in Anambra State. People must obey the law and do away with all vices.

Long live the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Chief Dr. Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano!

Long live Anambra State!

Signed:
Chief Kenneth Okonkwo
The Managing Director/Superintendent General
Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade.
9th May, 2017.