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Gateway International Church has lamented the unlawful encroachment of its property in Rivers by suspected land grabbers, vowing to take steps to recover and secure the affected property.
The church raised the alarm during a special prayer session held at its Life Centre, opposite TAF Estate along the Obiri-Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt.
Speaking to journalists, the Executive Pastor of Gateway International Church, Pastor Matthew Ogaren, said the church was compelled to speak out following repeated attempts by individuals to take over its land.
He explained that the church had begun moves to reclaim the property from those it accused of trespassing, stressing that the land legitimately belongs to the ministry.
Ogaren noted that the disputed land, which spans over 24.4 hectares, was lawfully acquired from the Omuoakachi and Omuolunwor families of Mbodo-Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
He maintained that the church holds valid ownership documents and would continue to pursue legal means to protect its interest.
The cleric also warned members of the public against entering into any transactions involving the disputed property, cautioning that such dealings would be at buyers’ risk.
He reaffirmed the church’s resolve to defend its property and ensure its rights are protected through lawful and peaceful channels.
He said, “This land belongs to Gateway International Church, and this is what we want the world to know. There are nuisance people, criminals who are trying to infiltrate the land”.
Ogaren maintained that Gateway International Church would not fold its hands and allow some unscrupulous elements to grab the Church Property.
His words,”This land belongs to Gateway International Church, and we are here to take it over. You can see several works going on now, this is to enable us to secure our portion from any other people coming into the land to claim ownership”.
“We want to be very clear, Connel Ogwumerum Eke does not have land here, this land belongs to Gateway International Church, and that is why we are here to declare to the whole world”.
“If you patronised any of the cheap Estate Developers like Entereo Homes claiming ownership of the land, please go back and take your money. We own this land, we possess the land,” he summed up.
He advised individuals involved in land grabbing to steer clear of the church’s property, and also urged any persons allegedly sponsoring the encroachers to desist from interfering with the land.
Also speaking, the lawyer to Gateway International Church, Barrister Uzoma A. Azogu, affirmed the authenticity of the church’s ownership of the disputed land.
He said he was directly involved in the negotiations leading to the acquisition of the property from the Omuoakachi and Omuolunwor families of Mbodo-Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to him, the land was purchased in phases, adding that the first phase of the acquisition was concluded in 2008.
He said, “we cleared part of the land and no body disturbed us, even when we were fencing the land, with the approval from former Chairman, Ikwerre LGA, Hon Samuel Nwanosike, no body challenged us, only recently we observed that land grabbers have infiltrated the land, trying to claim ownership.”
