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Residents accuse MP of using a gun to evict them from land
Mr Micheal Ayepa (C) speaks with Kapelebyong County MP Mr Julius Ocen after one of the meetings aimed at solving the land wrangles in Nyarikidi recently. Photo by Joseph Eigu Onyango.
Abim- A group of people in Morulem Sub County, Abim District want security personnel to disarm Ethur County Member of Parliament Mr Michael Ayepa whom they accuse of using his gun to evict them from their land.
They accuse the law maker of breaking the law by fuelling land conflicts in the district.
The residents say Mr Ayepa used his pistol to evict people who had settled Nyarikid and Awolio villages.
The chairperson of Awolio Village Mr Samson Ocen alleged that during the eviction, crops and other property were destroyed.
“We need government attention to save us because we have lived in this place for many years and some of our children have been elected as leaders here,” he said.
However, Mr Ayepa said he is ready to protect the disputed land in Abim District.
“I am not going to accept seeing the Itesot to grab our land in Abim and I keep quiet. This time I am ready to fight either through court or physically,” he said.
He said allegations that he has a firearm are fabricated by the head of security in Abim with the aim of frustrating his effort to evict the Itesot who have encroached on land in the district.
“Please tell the Resident District Commissioners of Amuria and Abim districts as well as the MP of Kapelebyong to back off Abim issues,” he said.
Abim Resident District Commissioner Mr Mpimbaza Hashaka said a section of people in the district have alerted him about the land wrangles and police are investigating the matter.
“Our Member of Parliament has become notorious by fuelling land conflicts. He is targeting immigrants especially the Itesot who have lived in the area for years,” Mr Hashaka said.
The district police commander Mr David Epedu said he would summon the MP to explain how he acquired the gun.
However, the chairperson of the neighbouring Napak District Mr Joseph Lomonyang said the area where the Itesot settled is not located in Abim district but in Napak.
“All those areas of Nyarikidi, Okungur, Akuworo are in Napak district. I am organising to take the Bokora boys from Napak to protect that land,” he said.
