Residents of Umuenu village in Umuawulu, located in the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, have formally objected to an intervention by Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim regarding a land dispute already adjudicated by the Supreme Court. During a peaceful demonstration at the Umuenu Village Hall on Wednesday, community members expressed frustration over claims made by their neighbors in Enugwu village.
Bernard Mbolu, the leader of Umuenu, explained that the Supreme Court issued a definitive ruling in 1973 confirming Umuenu’s ownership of the lands known as Agu Umuoma and Agu Umuofuu. Tensions escalated in 2020 when Enugwu residents began challenging this ownership and purportedly attempting to support claims from the neighboring Awgbu community. Mbolu expressed deep concern regarding the Deputy Governor’s decision to mediate a case that the judiciary had already settled.
The community also highlighted ongoing violence, citing the 2023 death of Humphrey Obi, a former village president who was killed following a machete attack. Elder Stephen Igwechukwu Okoye, a 96-year-old retired teacher, voiced fears that the involvement of state officials might be an intimidation tactic. The residents are now calling on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to protect their legal rights and ensure the Supreme Court’s ruling is respected.
