Elder Stephen Okoye, 96, spearheaded a demonstration on Wednesday involving hundreds of Umuenu Quarters residents in Umuawulu, Anambra State. The protesters claimed that Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim is attempting to influence a land dispute that has already been settled by the Supreme Court.
Okoye, the eldest member of Umuenu Quarters, stated that the conflict regarding the Agu Umuenu farmland has persisted for generations. He argued that the land has belonged to Umuenu since the colonial era and that historical court rulings support their ownership. The protesters contend that Enugwu Quarters, a neighboring group, is attempting to manipulate the situation by involving the Deputy Governor, who oversees boundary matters in the state.
Bernard Mbolu, President of the Umuenu Quarters Assembly, provided historical context, noting that the legal struggle dates back to 1927. According to Mbolu, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Umuenu in 1963. He stated that Enugwu Quarters previously testified in court on behalf of an opposing group, Awgbu, against Umuenu, but has recently begun asserting its own claim to the territory.
Mbolu further alleged that a local committee formed by the Igwe-in-Council previously affirmed Umuenu’s ownership. The situation escalated in 2024 when Umuenu residents attempted to farm the land, leading to a violent clash that resulted in the death of Mr. Humphrey Obi. The community members urged the government to respect the finality of judicial decisions rather than intervening in the matter.
