In a brazen act of land grabbing, families of Umuonyeashi and Umudogu in Nsokpo, Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State are under threat of losing their ancestral land to a well-funded syndicate, allegedly backed by security connections and unconventional armed forces. The syndicate, led by Eze B.A. Onyeanwu, Tobias Ihemedu, Emeka Umelo, Nicholas Ekeoha, Theodore Ugwulebo, and others, is accused of attempting to forcibly dispossess the rightful owners of their land.
The controversial land dispute involves One Estate Estate Company and Fisam Konsult Nig. Ltd, located at 18 Governor’s Road, Asaba, Delta State, reportedly bankrolled by one JoePat with N30 million. According to the families, Eze B.A. Onyeanwu, who has no rightful claim to the land, has allegedly “donated” 4,000 plots of the disputed land to the developers after receiving millions of naira in return. He is reported to have vowed to use his connections and unconventional security network to deal with anyone who dares stand in his way, including demolishing existing structures built by those who bought the land from the original families.
On September 4th, the situation escalated when the estate speculators, accompanied by two Hilux trucks filled with heavily armed policemen from Operation Search and Flush and seven armed thugs, invaded the land to conduct a survey. This invasion was met with resistance from members of the Umuonyeashi and Umudogu families, who stood their ground. Following the standoff, key leaders from the land-owning families, including one of their representatives, were detained by the police at the X-Squad Unit of the Imo State Police Command under ACP Linus Nwaiwu. Although they were later granted bail, they were subjected to intimidating threats of severe consequences if they continued to resist the takeover.
A planned visit to the disputed site was scheduled for September 24, 2024, but the developers refused to participate, instead opting to forcibly enter the land the following day. On September 25, they returned with two Hilux trucks of policemen from the State Command and armed men, allegedly recruited from a neighboring community of Agwa, and lodged them at the compound of Eze B.A. Onyeanwu. These gunmen launched an attack on the land-owning families, injuring several people. According to witnesses, their main intention was to eliminate opposition leaders and terrorize families resisting the land seizure.
Despite evidence of these armed men being apprehended by the local community, the police allegedly refused to arrest them. The threats have since escalated, with claims that these attackers have vowed to burn houses and kill notable community leaders, including those who continue to oppose their ambitions.
Residents of Nsokpo are living in constant fear, with nightly gunfire reported around the Central Ogbaku Market. Many no longer feel safe in their homes, with heightened apprehension that the violence seen in neighboring Agwa could pale in comparison to what is unfolding in their community.
The families of Umuonyeashi and Umudogu have called on the police and relevant authorities to urgently intervene to prevent a total breach of peace and public order in Nsokpo. The community demands protection as they face threats to their lives, homes, and ancestral heritage.
They stressed that further invasion of the land must be stopped to prevent any breach of public order, loss of lives, arson, and wanton destruction of properties.
Photographs and videos of the armed men have been circulated, showing their presence near the entrance gates of the besieged families. The situation remains tense, with the fear of impending violence hanging heavily over the community.
