Man blocks three lanes of road in Black Sea province over land dispute

SAMSUN – Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

A 64-year-old man named İbrahim Akbulut has blocked three lanes of a newly-constructed four-lane road in Turkey’s Black Sea province of Samsun after land registry general directorate officials made measurements claiming the road belonged to him. 

Akbulut had the land registry officials perform measurements on a 550-square-meter section of the road in Samsun’s central İlkadım district, stating part of the road belonged to him and that the municipality had not even attempted to reach a settlement for the road’s construction. 

Having blocked two lanes of the four-lane road around 16 months ago, Akbulut blocked the third lane of the road on Oct. 20, on grounds no official from the municipality had contacted him about the issue. 

“This road’s land title belongs to me. There is a final verdict. There is a trial that was opened in 2006. We said ‘do not construct this road.’ The municipality was doing a public service but there cannot be public service on my land,” said Akbulut, adding he would close the fourth lane of the road too if his demands were not met. 

“I will block the entirety of this road in one month,” he said.