By Emma Amaize

WARRI—IJALA community in Delta State has appealed to the state government to pay damages to villagers, whose homes were among the 82 buildings demolished at the Warri Royal Cemetery ground by government in June 2014, to give them a new lease of life.

The community, in a letter to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, by the Olara-Aja (head) of Ijala Ijenren community, Pa A. Ikenren and two others,   said the joy of an emerging vibrant new layout at Ifie was cut short with the demolition that shattered the hopes and aspirations of the house owners.

It noted with regret that since the demolition, the vast land had become a thick forest, while the masses were looking for land to build houses following the congestion and high cost of houses in the oil city of Warri. According to the community, thousands of persons were rendered homeless as a result of the demolition exercise and the victims are yet to recover from the shock till date.