Community, Army in fresh face-off over disputed land
Tension has escalated at Ochima community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, as a protracted land dispute between residents and the Nigerian Army takes a fresh dimension. For
- From Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu
Tension has escalated at Ochima community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, as a protracted land dispute between residents and the Nigerian Army takes a fresh dimension.
For years, villagers say they have lived under the shadow of a nearby military shooting range, with the constant sound of gunfire shaping daily life and raising concerns about safety.
The situation recently worsened when soldiers allegedly began fencing off more than 540 hectares, which the community maintains are ancestral properties.
The move sparked a peaceful protest, with residents trooping out in large numbers to express anger and demand an end to what they described as encroachment.
Placards bearing inscriptions such as “Army leave our land,” “Respect court order,” and “Stop destroying our farms” underscored the depth of frustration among the people.
While the protest remained orderly, participants say the conflict goes beyond land ownership, touching on their identity and survival. Many residents used the occasion to recount what they described as a decade-long struggle that has gradually intensified.
The President General of Ochima Town Union, Gerald Ubaka, traced the root of the dispute to around 2010 following a communal clash between neighbouring communities.
“The Nigerian Army came after the fight between Affa and Umuna. They said they were working on the land that was causing the problem, but they started coming into our own farmland,” he said.
Ubaka alleged that what began as intervention later turned into occupation, with the military marking portions of land as its own.
“They started putting signposts that we should keep off, that it is Nigerian Army land,” he said. “But this is where we were born. Our fathers and grandfathers lived here.”
According to him, the community avoided confrontation and instead sought intervention from government authorities without success. “Because we cannot fight them, we reported to the local and state governments, but nothing was done,” he added.
The dispute took a more serious turn in 2016 when the Army reportedly established a shooting range on the land, even as complaints persisted.
Residents say the presence of the range has exposed them to danger, citing incidents involving stray bullets and explosives.
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“Some time ago, a bullet hit a woman who was farming, and she later died,” Ubaka alleged, describing the development as tragic.
Youth leader, Chukwudi Ugwu, said the fear of sudden gunfire has become part of everyday life in the community.
“At times they start shooting and we begin to run from place to place,” he said. “We are calling on Nigerians to come to our rescue.”
Ugwu insisted that there was no agreement ceding land to the military. “There was no time our forefathers sold this land to the Army,” he added.
The community eventually approached the court, seeking legal resolution to the dispute.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Gabriel Okafor, who is involved in the matter, said the court had directed all parties to maintain the status quo.
“The High Court asked everyone to stay where they are pending the determination of the case,” he said. “But now they have mobilised and started fencing the land.”
Okafor described the situation as troubling. “How will people feel waking up to see soldiers fencing their village?” he asked.
He further revealed that letters had been written to top military authorities before the legal action was initiated, but no response was received.
Beyond the legal tussle, residents say the dispute is already affecting their livelihoods and daily activities.
Farmers claim they have been denied access to farmlands, while others say streams and vital resources are no longer within reach.
Community elder, Chief Nnajiofor Oluka, lamented the loss of cultural heritage tied to the land.
“The most painful part is that our places of worship have been taken over,” he said. “We don’t even know how to explain this.”
The traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Hyacinth Ezechinyere, said the community had repeatedly sought clarification from the military.
“We asked them to tell us who sold the land to them, but there has been no clear answer,” the monarch said.
According to him, the Army later explained that the fencing was meant to prevent stray bullets from reaching residential areas.
However, some residents said they have never known the Army to own land in the area prior to the dispute.
Women in the community, particularly widows, say they have borne the brunt of the crisis through loss of crops and income.
“Soldiers came and destroyed what we use to feed our children,” one woman said. “Even our only source of water has been taken.”
She added: “We are begging for help because this land is our only means of survival.”
Contacted, Nigerian Army acknowledged the enquiry and indicated that a response would be provided after necessary approvals.
However, at press time, no official response had been issued, leaving the dispute unresolved and tension still high.
