Landlords and house owners in Okoria area of Agudama-Epie in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have staged a protest against alleged forceful demolition of their property by the Central Naval Command.

The aggrieved protesters marched through the Melford Okilo Road terminating at the Government House in Yenagoa to appeal to Governor Douye Diri to intervene and prevail on the navy authorities to stop the planned demolition of their houses.

The houses are located close to the Central Naval Command base in Yenagoa.

The protesting house owners carried placards with different inscriptions such as “we no go gree”; “our sweat no go go in vain”; “they want to destroy our property, Mr. President and Governor please save us”, and “we say no to oppression, Nigeria Navy you can’t destroy our houses without compensation$, among others.

Two members of the community, Asaye Ebikebina and Emmanuel Efrisou, said the Central Naval Command “have given us until this Saturday to demolish our property without compensation, and the matter is still in court.

Mrs. Sokore Blokore, a mother of six, who is in her sixties, said, “I lost my husband recently and I have no where to go to if our house is demolished.

“The house was built by my daughter and she is dead, too”.

A landlord, Mr. Christopher Brik, whose house had already been demolished narrated the harrowing experience he has been subjected to after then.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Domestic Matters, Mr. Lucky Youbogha, who addressed the protesting landlords, commended them for their peaceful conduct.

He promised to brief the governor on the matter.

The spokesperson for the Central Naval Command, Sub-Lieutenant Patricia Dike, promised to get back for the Navy’s reaction to the allegations but she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.