The people of Umuawafor, Umuokereke and Umunwogu villages in Isiala Aro-Ngwa Autonomous Community in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State have raised alarm over what they termed land grabbing activities using the name of the state government.
They said that the move to grab their land and use it for the proposed “Smart City” without considering their welfare and the already existing development activities of their tenants who had already purchased some land there is tantamount to unlawful acquisition and land grabbing.
In a peaceful protest they held on Wednesday to demand an end to what they called unlawful and forceful acquisition of their only remaining land. The villagers said that over the years, they have suffered great losses in the hands of some persons claiming to be government agents, who ended up disposing of them of their land.
The villagers put up their grievances in a protest letter unanimously signed by their leaders including Elder Sampson Ihediwa for Umuawafor village, Elder Chijioke Ohiaegbu for Umuokereke village, Elder Opel Ahuruonye for Umunwogu village on behalf of their people, and read out by their spokesperson, Comrade Friday Appolos.
In the letter, they pleaded with the state government to allow existing developers who had already acquired some of the lands, including some indigenous people, to continue their development rather than forcefully taking them away.
“We recall that the Abia State government in the past acquired land for the permanent site of the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Osisioma, and the larger part of it belongs to one of the affected villages, Umuawafor village, who has 95% of the land there.
“The recent purported acquisition is frustrating. This is injustice, inhuman and unacceptable. We call on the Abia State government to take note that those bringing them here to take our land are not our people.
“These affected villages have never for one day seen any government representatives. We call on the Abia State government to leave the Aro Ngwa people alone. Development must not start and end in Aro Ngwa. There are other villages with enough land to give out. Ours is finished.
“Where do they want us to stay? We know we have no prominent people in government, but we must be treated like human beings, not animals. We are vehemently saying no, and enough is enough.
“Whatever any leader cannot do to the people of his community must not happen in another place. We will not accept this forceful, unlawful acquisition of our land. If they want to take over this land, they should get ready to eliminate all of us because we’ll resist it,” Appolos read on behalf of the affected three villages.
Also speaking, and indigene of Aro-Ngwa, from one of the affected villages, retired police superintendent, Chiemela Nwankwoala pleased with Governor Alex Otti to kindly make serious inquiries about the land, and see that those who are actually coming in the name of government and not coming to do government any good.
“How can I serve my fatherland for 35 years, and some people are here to confiscate my land in my own village? Where will my children stay? Where will I be buried? Will I be buried in a strange land? Our community has given enough land to the government.
“We’re native people; we’re not settlers. I’m currently 70 years of age. What do they want me to do? I’ve gone round the country working.
“I lived in my father’s house throughout my years of service; now I’m working on my own house, and they want to take my land away from me. Is it fair? Please let them help us.”
Barrister Obioha Edward, a lawyer to some investors in the area like Cyril Nwachukwu, Nkechi Nwachukwu and Emeka Nwachukwu, who are indigenes of the area, said that some time last year they got a rumour that the government of Abia State had grabbed the land belonging to his clients.
“All efforts made to reach out to the government proved abortive. They went ahead to sue the government with SUIT NO: HOS/168/2025. Upon service of the suit to the government, they responded through a lawyer; the matter is still pending in court now.
“But just a few days ago, we began to hear that individuals that the government gave the land to are coming for groundbreaking on land that belongs to my client who has every necessary document.
“The major issue my clients are complaining about is that they purchased this land to develop it, but they keep distracting them using the name of the Abia State government, and my clients are not happy.
“They’re doing this without minding that there’s a pending suit. If there’s any need for the government to acquire this land, my clients should have been notified, and both the Land Use Act and the law section 44 sub 1 of the constitution mandate the government to notify my client about the purported acquisition or actual acquisition, which they didn’t do.
“It was on that ground that we went to court, yet they want to come and dispose of my client through some people that called investors.
“If the government want the land, they should contact my clients, or they should leave the land alone because my clients are ready to develop this land whichever way the government wants it or pay adequate compensation. What my clients have here is over 140 plots.”
