Anambra community rejects deputy governor’s attempt to wade into land dispute

Indigenes of Umuenu village in Umuawulu Community of Awka South Local Government Area in Anambra State have rejected attempt by the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim to wade into a land dispute that had already been settled by the Supreme Court.

The community had held a peaceful protest at Umuenu Village Hall on Wednesday lamenting that their neighbours, Enugu village also in Umuawulu have been laying claims to their land without success, but resorted to bearing witness to the land being owned by another neighbouring community, Awgbu.

The President of Umuenu quarters, Mr Bernard Mbolu who led the protest told journalists that recently, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, had invited them for mediation, asking his interest in the matter.

He insisted that as far back as 1973, the Supreme Court had already delivered a judgement on the land, affirming that they (Umuenu) owned the land.

He said: “Umuawulu is made up of three quarters; Umuenu, Enugwu and Agbana villages.

“We had challenges of boundary with our neighbouring community, Awgbu in 1927. The matter lingered until 1973 when Supreme Court ruled that the disputed lands, Agu Umuoma and Agu Umuofuu were owned by Umuenu Village.

“Since then, we have not had anyone contesting the land with us until 2020 when Enugwu village started making trouble with us over the land. We are surprised that when it was proven that the land belonged to us, they are now trying to bear witness that the land belongs to Awgbu.

“They have been trying to manipulate our people, and now we are surprised that the deputy governor invited us that he wants to come into the matter.

“Enugwu village indigenes have been tormenting our indigenes, last year they even attacked our indigenes and macheted our brother, Humphrey Obi, who was our village president, which led to his death.”

Also, a 96-year old retired teacher in the community, Elder Stephen Igwechukwu Okoye who addressed journalists lamented that their neighbours have been intimidating them, and they suspect that the latest move to draft the deputy governor into the matter was to further intimidate them.

“They are oppressing us and they want to use manipulation to take away the land. We are begging the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to come to our aide. Court they say is the hope of the common man, why do they want to take laws into their hands after the Supreme Court had spoken?” he queried.