Women from Alode Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have taken to the streets to demonstrate against the destruction of their farms and crops by bulldozers deployed by Rainbow Heritage Limited, the company coordinating the building of the New Port City in Eleme Local Government Area.
The women, who carried placards, dared the bulldozers to run over them as they protested the destruction of their farms by the company, which they said did not consult with them before entering their farms or offered any form of compensation.
The company last week began to clear the land and farms to begin to erect structures and provide services for the new city, which was flagged off last year by Rivers State Government.
Leader of the women, Dr. Patience Osaroejiji, said they woke up to see heavy duty equipment uprooting their crops and wasting all their efforts of the last planting season.
“Okrika are pursuing us from one end and now the government is also destroying our farm land through Rainbow Heritage, Greater Port Harcourt Authorities and other unknown contractors without proper consultation with the Community.
“Heavy duty machine excavating our farm land in Alode Community in Eleme Local Government Area. Oka Oken eju Oka Nkpaala, Oka Agbogbor echi, Oka adaa-oka, Oka abala nikken, Oka nmie ebajor and Oka ejia alejor farm lands are all gone,” she lamented.
The women took their protests to the local government office and Eleme Divisional Police Station.
