Residents of Enugu Akpugo Autonomous Community in Nkanu West Local Government Area have staged a peaceful protest against what they described as an attempted takeover of 36.15 hectares of their ancestral land by the Nigeria Police Force, despite a court ruling in their favor.
Members of the Umuedenwoko Family Union and the Umuedenwoko Farmers Cooperative Society Limited carried placards and decried what they called a blatant disregard for the rule of law, alleging that powerful interests were attempting to override a 2023 Enugu State High Court judgment confirming their ownership of the land.
The disputed property, known as Ngeneugbugbo, was the subject of a long-standing legal battle in Suit No. HAGB/1/2011.
On June 14, 2023, Justice A.O. Anidi ruled that the land belonged to the Umuedenwoko family, declaring any state or police claims null and void.
Speaking at the site, Chief Ikechukwu Nnamoko, Chairman of the Umuedenwoko Family (Akpugo Branch), said the family was shocked to see police signposts erected on their land.
“We came to access our ancestral home, but my uncle’s house was demolished by these land grabbers,” he said, adding that the land had never been negotiated for sale or lease to anyone.
Chief Ikem Okenwa, another family member, highlighted that the land was surveyed in 1978 and a Customary Right of Occupancy obtained in 1993.
He alleged that previous attempts to seize the property involved collusion among high-ranking officials.
Reacting to the allegations, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, insisted that the Nigeria Police Force acted in accordance with proper procedures.
“The land was acquired for a secondary school. The Nigeria Police Property Development Company has notified the Commissioner of Police in Enugu of its intention to commence work, with supporting documents from the state government,” he said, dismissing claims of illegal acquisition.
The Umuedenwoko family warned that the situation threatens communal land rights nationwide.
“If this can happen to us despite winning in court, then no community land is safe,” said a family member identified as Nnaji.
Attempts to reach the Enugu State Commissioner for Information, Malachy Agbo, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
