Call land grabbers to order, Imo community urges Uzodinma

The Umuapu Community in the Ohaji/Egbema Council Area of Imo State has appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma to call to order those responsible for the forceful invasion and acquisition of their ancestral farmland.

The appeal was made during an enlarged meeting of leaders, elders, Ndi Nzes, Na Ozors, the chief priest, women, and youths of Umuokom/Umuogbuehi-Umuapu, held on Monday in the community.

Addressing newsmen during the meeting, the former lawmaker who represented the Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Luke Chukwu, advised the Governor to set up a committee of inquiry to carry out a holistic investigation into the land dispute.

Hon. Chukwu insisted that failure by the Governor to take appropriate action would compel the community to stage a protest to express their grievances.

He said: “We believe the Governor is unaware of what is happening, but let his aides read the newspapers and inform him of what the people of Umuapu are saying.”

The former lawmaker maintained that the 500 hectares of land in question, located along the Owerri/Port Harcourt Expressway near the boundary with Nkaraha community, belongs to Umuogbuehi village in Umuapu Community and cannot be claimed by a single individual.

The two-time Executive Chairman of Ohaji/Egbema LGA recalled how the people of Nkaraha came to Umuogbuehi village years ago to beg for a portion of land for farming before the Federal Government, through the National Root Crops Research Institute, acquired the land—though they later pulled out.

He further stated that it was during this period that the CEO of Marcon Group of Companies came to acquire the land under a 30-year lease agreement, which was later renewed for another 30 years.

He outrightly condemned the claims by one Chinedu Apkelu, who claims ownership of the entire land. He noted that Chinedu’s father, Matthew Apkelu, died shortly after allegedly taking a false oath and pouring libation alongside members of the Umuapu community and some traditional rulers in the state.

Chukwu frowned at the forceful invasion of the land by alleged land grabbers who, with the help of thugs, security personnel, and a bulldozer, entered the land without the community’s consent. He alleged that the invasion was orchestrated by the government and expressed concern that the government’s plan is to use the land for a RUGA settlement for Fulani herders—an initiative he believes will bring more danger and fear than benefits to the community.

He regretted that the people of Ohaji, who are predominantly farmers, have previously donated large expanses of farmland for development projects and institutions without receiving any tangible benefits in return.

Earlier in his speech, the Obikwu of Umuapu Community, Hycient Onyema, emphasized that the ancestral land in question belongs to Umuogbuehi village.

He said that prior to the invasion, the people of the community had been cultivating the land, which had long served as the primary source of food for their families.

He expressed regret that the people of Nkaraha, with whom they had never had conflicts, are now trying to take over the land forcefully.

He also recalled that Matthew Apkelu, the alleged owner of the land, died a few days after taking an oath.

The Obikwu advised those he described as land grabbers to desist from further attempts to claim the land, stating that it does not belong to them.

He said: “The people of Nkaraha and Umuapu have never had any issues in the past.”

The Vice President of the Obiwuruotu Women Association, Umuapu, Mrs. Rosemary Ajoku, said they are ready to die in defense of the land.

She explained that, as farmers, they are unhappy with the current situation, stressing that the forceful acquisition of the land would deny them access to their ancestral farmlands where they grow food for their families.

The women appealed to those responsible for the illegal and forceful acquisition to vacate the land for their own good.