Why we destroyed 20 houses-NAF

The Nigerian Air Force has revealed reasons it took steps to stop construction of buildings by Ugondo Mbaivyohor-Tiev Communities in Benue State.

In a statement signed by Flying Officer, for Air Officer Commanding, O. G. Akinfolarin, stated that Ugondo Mbaivyohor-Tiev Communities had been encroaching on NAF land for a long time, despite repeated warnings.

He further explained: “It is well known by both parties as well as the Benue State Ministry of lands and Survey (BSMLS) that the land in dispute was allocated to the NAF in 1977 vide a survey map signed by Col Shelleng. However, rather than desist, the communities even filed suit No MHC/1834M/2014 dated 11 November 2014 at the High Court of Justice Makurdi in respect of the dispute land and the matter is still pending before the court.”

According to Akinfolarin, in a bid to resolve the dispute amicably, the Benue State House of Assembly (BSHA) communicated its resolution on the matter to the then Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Headquarters Tactical Air Command (HQTAC), Air Vice Marshal NA Balogun vide a letter dated 20 May 2015.

He noted that the BSHA resolution stated among others, that there should be no further development on the disputed land by either the NAF or the Ugondo Mbaivyohor-Tiev Communities until field officers from the BSMLS establish boundaries.

“However, while NAF complied with the BSHA resolution, the Communities continued making further developments on the land, in flagrant disregard of the resolution,” said Akinfolarin. “Hence, a letter, dated 15 June 2015 and marked Enclose 2, was written to the BSHA. Eventually field officers from the BSMLS established the boundaries and confirmed that the disputed area is indeed NAF land.”

The officer explained that it was based on this fact that the land belonged to NAF, that NAF intensified routine patrol in the area to prevent further encroachment and development.

Akinfolarin added: “It was during such patrol that recent developments, that is, the buildings under construction, unoccupied houses, in the area were demolished. Similarly, no resident was beaten, harassed or disposed of their money or property. Contrary to the allegation that the AOC led 200 NAF officials to destroy 20 houses, the Air Officer Commanding, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshall RA Ojuawo was at Ibadan and Benin on a tour of Units under Command during the incident.”

In a letter dated May 29, 2015, signed by Clerk of the House, Torese Agena, the Benue State House of Assembly implored members of Ugondo Mbaivyohor-Tiev Communities and NAF not to take further action on the disputed land until the issue of boundary demarcation had been established.

The letter further stated: “That the Ministry of Lands and Survey should take all necessary steps for a peaceful and lasting solution on the dispute by deploying field officers to resurvey the Nigerian Air Force/Ugondo Mbaivyohor-Tiev disputed land and submit same to the House of Assembly Committee on Lands and Survey within seven days.”

The essence of the letter was for both parties to comply with the instructions of the House of Assembly.

On June 15, 2015, NAF wrote a letter to the House of Assembly, revealing that it had discovered, while on routine patrol on June 6, 2015, that there had been breach of the House’s resolution by some members of Akpen Community, who form part of the Ugondo Community.

The letter, which was signed by NA Balogun stated: “The Akpen Catholic Church in particular is currently erecting a building adjacent to the church. This action is in flagrant violation of the resolution of the BSHA.”

NAF disclosed that it sent evidences of these buildings in the said letter.

NAF urged BSHA to call Akpen Community to order. But NAF added: “The NAF accepted the resolution of the BSHA in good faith and expects the Akpen Community to reciprocate accordingly. However, if the Akpen Community fails to heed to this warning, the NAF may be forced to take proactive measures against the erring party since the structure being erected may constitute security threat to NAF operations.”