Anambra nonagenarian leads protest over communal land dispute

Elder Stephen Okoye, a 96-year-old resident, spearheaded a protest on Wednesday involving hundreds of people from Umuenu Quarters in Umuawulu, Anambra State. The demonstration was a response to what they described as an attempt by the state's Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, to interfere in a land dispute that the Supreme Court had already settled in favor of Umuenu Quarters. Okoye, identifying himself as the oldest man in Umuenu Quarters, spoke emotionally about the protracted dispute over the fertile Agu Umuenu land, which has been ongoing since the colonial era. He expressed surprise that individuals not indigenous to the area are now claiming ownership, especially since the Enugwu Quarters community had previously served as witnesses for another party in earlier litigation over the same land. "Enugwu people are only trying to ignite crisis in Umuawulu," Okoye stated, questioning their claim to land that Umuawulu residents say they provided. The protesters allege that the Deputy Governor is being manipulated to intervene in boundary disputes, a role he oversees in the state. They view this as a dangerous attempt to redistribute land that has already been legally decided. Bernard Mbolu, President of the Umuenu Quarters Assembly, confirmed that the land dispute, known as Agu Udo Umuoma and Agu Ofuu collectively as Agu Umuenu, reached the Supreme Court in 1963, which ruled in favor of Umuenu Quarters. He noted that Enugwu Quarters had testified for Awgbu in previous legal battles before laying claim to the land themselves after Awgbu lost. Mbolu detailed how a committee was formed to demarcate boundaries after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Awgbu. However, he stated that Enugwu people later invaded the land, leading to further interventions, including a 20-man committee set up by the then President-General of Umuawulu, Ozo I.K. Nkala, with neutral representation from the Agbana quarter.

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This land dispute started during the colonial era and after a protracted litigation, it was acknowledged that Umuenu is the owner of the land. We are surprised that people who are not indigenous to this area should be claiming our land.