Residents of Umuene in Amigbo village, Ishi-Ozalla community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State staged a protest on Thursday over the alleged forceful takeover of their ancestral land.
The demonstrators, who identified themselves as descendants of Nwafor Ogbodo Nwachi, accused a man identified as Mike Onu of collaborating with others to unlawfully take possession of their family land without valid documentation.
During the protest, community members marched through their village and later moved to parts of Enugu metropolis, carrying placards demanding justice. Some of the inscriptions read: “Our grandfather’s land is not your property,” “Mike Onu stop the land grabbing,” and “No consent, no construction.”
Speaking to journalists, a member of the family, Modester Chekwube Muoneke, alleged that the family had been sidelined and treated as though they had no support in the dispute.
Muoneke explained that the conflict began in 2025 when the family discovered that Onu had allegedly moved onto the land, which she described as the ancestral property of her grandfather. She claimed that when the family filed a petition, Onu insisted he had legally purchased the land.
However, Muoneke alleged that further inquiries revealed the individual who was said to have sold the land denied carrying out any such transaction. She also claimed that Onu entered the land accompanied by armed men and began construction without presenting ownership documents.
The family member further alleged that the legal case initially filed in Agbani was later transferred to Enugu, raising concerns that the suspect might be attempting to delay or frustrate the judicial process.
According to Muoneke, the family had repeatedly asked Onu to present documents supporting his claim and offered to refund any money he allegedly paid for the land, but she said he failed to provide proof of ownership.
She also warned that continued cases of land grabbing could threaten ancestral lands belonging to families in the Ozalla community if authorities fail to intervene.
The protesters appealed to the Enugu State Government and security agencies to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
Reacting to the allegations, Onu maintained that he followed all legal procedures in acquiring the property and possesses documents to support his claim. He declined to comment further, noting that the matter is already before the court.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, construction work is reportedly continuing on the land.
