Umunenweze Community Appeals to Abia Govt Over Alleged Land Grabbing
Members of Umunenweze village in Okaiuga Nkwoegwu Autonomous Community, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, have appealed to the state government to urgently intervene in an alleged land-grabbing dispute threatening the community.
The community made the appeal on Wednesday during a protest at the disputed Okpuijikara land, warning that the situation could lead to hunger, unemployment and communal violence if not addressed promptly.
Presenting the community’s position, the spokesperson, Onyekachi Igbojionu, alleged that ancestral land reserved for farming and future housing needs had been donated to private estate developers by some individuals without the knowledge or consent of the wider community.
Igbojionu further alleged that activities by those he described as land grabbers had continued despite a court order issued by Justice A.U. Kalu of the Abia State High Court, Umuahia, in Suit No. HU/163/2022.
He also raised concerns over the alleged plans to donate land belonging to the community’s secondary school to private individuals without the knowledge or approval of residents.
“We appeal to our governor, Alex Otti, to intervene in this matter so that our people will not die of hunger. We also beg the governor to intervene so that the tension generated by this land grabbing does not result in violence and bloodshed,” Igbojionu said.
He added that the community would pursue “every legal, judicial, peaceful and customary measure” available to enforce the court order and protect its ancestral land for future generations.
Also speaking, a member of the community, Mrs Janeth Nwagboso, said women in Umunenweze were increasingly afraid to access the Okpuijikara land for farming.
Nwagboso said the development had worsened hunger and unemployment in the community and warned that the situation could escalate into communal violence without urgent government intervention.
The dispute comes after the Abia State Government confirmed on June 3, 2026, that it had received petitions concerning the disputed lands and promised to seek an amicable resolution to the matter.
Members of Umunenweze village in Okaiuga Nkwoegwu Autonomous Community, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, have appealed to the state government to urgently intervene in an alleged land-grabbing dispute threatening the community.
The community made the appeal on Wednesday during a protest at the disputed Okpuijikara land, warning that the situation could lead to hunger, unemployment and communal violence if not addressed promptly.
Presenting the community’s position, the spokesperson, Onyekachi Igbojionu, alleged that ancestral land reserved for farming and future housing needs had been donated to private estate developers by some individuals without the knowledge or consent of the wider community.
Igbojionu further alleged that activities by those he described as land grabbers had continued despite a court order issued by Justice A.U. Kalu of the Abia State High Court, Umuahia, in Suit No. HU/163/2022.
He also raised concerns over the alleged plans to donate land belonging to the community’s secondary school to private individuals without the knowledge or approval of residents.
“We appeal to our governor, Alex Otti, to intervene in this matter so that our people will not die of hunger. We also beg the governor to intervene so that the tension generated by this land grabbing does not result in violence and bloodshed,” Igbojionu said.
He added that the community would pursue “every legal, judicial, peaceful and customary measure” available to enforce the court order and protect its ancestral land for future generations.
Also speaking, a member of the community, Mrs Janeth Nwagboso, said women in Umunenweze were increasingly afraid to access the Okpuijikara land for farming.
Nwagboso said the development had worsened hunger and unemployment in the community and warned that the situation could escalate into communal violence without urgent government intervention.
The dispute comes after the Abia State Government confirmed on June 3, 2026, that it had received petitions concerning the disputed lands and promised to seek an amicable resolution to the matter.
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