Farmers lament as land dispute pits Enugu community against investors
Tension has continued to build in Ezioha Mgbowo community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State following allegations of land invasion and destruction of farmland at Ugwunzu, an area
Tension has continued to build in Ezioha Mgbowo community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State following allegations of land invasion and destruction of farmland at Ugwunzu, an area the community describes as its ancestral land.
Community leaders said the controversy began in December 2025 when bulldozers moved into the farmland without prior notice to villagers.
They said the machines cleared cultivated land, destroying crops and economic trees belonging to farmers.
Many of the affected farmers are reportedly widows and elderly villagers, who depend on the land for their livelihood.
Residents recalled watching helplessly as crops cultivated over several months were destroyed within hours.
Leaders of the community, led by elder statesman, Chief Commodore Anthony Oguguo (Rtd.), said they confronted the individual supervising the clearing operation, Igwe-elect Kingsley Okeke, popularly known as “Osama.” They alleged that he declined to engage with community leadership and instead insisted he had government authorisation to operate on the land.
It was gathered that efforts by the traditional ruler of Ekpulato Mgbowo, HRH Igwe Gregory Ikwuagwu Ituma, to mediate in the matter yielded little progress.
Speaking on behalf of Mgbowo Stakeholders Forum, during a protest, Jeffrey Ndubeze alleged that appeals to local authorities did not immediately stop the clearing activities.
According to him, officials reportedly indicated that the developers possessed documents granting them a 99-year leasehold on the land.
Ndubeze said the community requested that the documents be presented before community leaders in a neutral venue, preferably at the palace of the traditional ruler, but the request was declined.
“We asked that any discussion regarding the land and the documents be held at the palace of HRH Igwe Ituma so that the community could properly understand what was happening.
“Unfortunately, that proposal was rejected, while construction activities continued,” he said.
Concerned about rising tension, the community submitted petitions to several authorities, including Enugu State Government, House of Assembly, Inspector-General of Police, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and Department of State Services (DSS).’’
Ndubeze said the situation was eventually de-escalated following the intervention of a respected indigene, General Okwudili Azinta, which reportedly prompted Governor Peter Mbah to direct that construction activities on the site be halted.
Although the directive stopped further work, residents noted that a perimeter wall had already been erected around the disputed land.
At the centre of the controversy are questions surrounding the history and ownership of Ugwunzu land. Historical records indicate that the area had previously been acquired by the Federal Government for a housing project under the Low-Cost Housing Scheme introduced during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari between 1979 and 1983.
Community members said the project was later abandoned, but that the land was originally meant to involve the host community as stakeholders, including provisions for equity participation.
They are, therefore, questioning whether land acquired for a public housing project can legally be leased to a private investor for 99 years without consultation with the host community or the state government.
Ndubeze also raised concerns about the roles played by some public officials and security agencies during the dispute, including allegations that police officers failed to stop the destruction of farmland or record statements from community representatives, who reported the incident.
Igwe-elect Kingsley Okeke, said to be supervising the clearing operation at the site, could not be reached for comments.
However, one of those accused by protesters of playing a controversial role in the dispute, Ugochukwu Akaude, denied the allegations against him, including claims that he is acting as a police informant.
In a chat with our correspondent, Akaude said he first became aware of the accusations through social media posts where his name was mentioned among individuals allegedly causing problems in the community.
He said the matter had earlier attracted the attention of the DSS after a petition was written against him, leading to his invitation for questioning by the agency.
Providing his account of the dispute, Akaude said the land in question formed part of the abandoned federal low-cost housing project initiated during the Shagari administration.
“The place had remained largely unused for many years until some investors recently expressed interest in developing it into a housing estate,” he said.
He noted that during excavation work on the site, skeletal remains of possibly kidnapped victims were reportedly discovered on two separate occasions with some motorcycles and that the incident was reported to authorities, prompting the Divisional Police Officer to secure the location.
According to him, disagreements emerged when investors eventually moved in to begin development.
Despite the differing narratives, community leaders insist their demand is not aimed at stopping development, but ensuring transparency and justice.
“This struggle is not merely about farmland,” the community stated. “It is about protecting our ancestral heritage, the dignity of our people, and the economic survival of our farmers.”
They therefore called on Enugu State Government and House of Assembly to institute a comprehensive investigation into the alleged lease agreement, the roles played by public officials, and the destruction of farmland.
Residents said they hoped a transparent investigation would clarify ownership claims and prevent the dispute from escalating into a broader communal conflict.
