Land dispute tensions: Enugu community sounds alarm, points finger at former Governor

The community of Obollo in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State is facing escalating tensions over a land dispute, raising concerns of potential unrest and bloodshed in the area. In a press briefing held in Enugu over the weekend, residents accused a former governor of Enugu State of instigating the crisis with the intention of seizing a vast expanse of land exceeding 70 hectares.

The Obollo people presented a petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Agbetokun, detailing their grievances and accusing the former governor of using allies to fuel the crisis and claim communal land. The petition, dated December 21, 2023, and signed by Chief Matthew Agu, the Donee, Power of Attorney, Oha Obollo in Council, outlined the unfolding situation.

According to Agu, the genesis of the conflict stems from the former governor’s initial request for a large portion of land to establish a dry sea port in Obollo-Afor. Although the request was granted in 2015 for public benefit, the community alleges that the governor manipulated the situation, attempting to convert the land for personal use.

Agu highlighted the community’s resistance to this, stating, “That land is not for anybody’s personal use.” He further revealed that the ex-governor had employed tactics such as engineering one of the clans in the community to claim ownership of the property, circumventing an existing court order indicating that the land belongs to the entire Oha Obollo.

The Obollo community leader also detailed attempts by the ex-governor, in collaboration with a serving police chief from the same local government, to hinder legal resolutions of the issue. Agu accused the police in the state of being compromised and appealed to the IGP to intervene, preventing the situation from escalating into a full-blown crisis.

He pleaded with the IGP to thoroughly investigate the matter, restore the judgment creditors to their property, and avoid a potential outbreak of violence that could result in loss of lives and property.