Firstsitenews-Ngor Okpala, Imo State Rising tension grips the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area as residents of Umuiche village, Elelem Autonomous Community, have accused the Imo State Government of orchestrating a forceful land grab allegedly accompanied by violence, intimidation, and fatal attacks.
In a strongly worded petition signed by community leaders Mr. Martins Okoroafor (Chairman), Mr. Christ Nwogu (Secretary), and Mr. Nicholas Egbufor (Member) the villagers claim that armed individuals, believed to be operating under state protection, have been invading and seizing ancestral lands without the consent of rightful owners.
The community specifically accuses Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma of enabling the alleged land seizure through key individuals identified as Chikadibia Anyanwu, Chukwudubem Nwosu, and Andrew Okere reportedly from the neighboring Obioma Autonomous Community.
“These individuals, in collaboration with armed bandits and allegedly backed by security operatives from the Tiger Base unit, have been violently displacing native landowners and installing unknown settlers,” the statement reads.
The villagers believe the ultimate goal is to create settlements for Fulani herders a move they say they will resist at all costs. Tragically, the conflict has reportedly claimed the lives of three community members who opposed the land occupation.
“Our lands historically known as Ahaba/Ngara and Agaranwa stretch behind our village and border Umundoche, Okwuruma, and Obioma Autonomous Community near the Rivers State boundary,” the leaders said.
The community decried the destruction and chaos caused by these attacks, noting that many residents have been forced to flee their homes, making it difficult to gather visual evidence or identify all perpetrators.
“We will not sell or surrender our lands for any form of settlement. We are calling on the general public, human rights advocates, and civil society organizations to rise and intervene before this injustice escalates further,” the petition concludes.
Villages affected by the crisis include:
Umuiche in Elelem Autonomous Community
Umundoche village
Okwuruma village
Umuoyere in Obioma Autonomous Community
Efforts to obtain comments from the Imo State Government were unsuccessful as of the time of this report.
SOURCE; Najiblog.net
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