Enugu Community Protests Against Land Grabbers

The people of Umuedum community, Amuri in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu State have staged a peaceful against land grabbers.

They warned land grabbers disguising themselves as estate developers to avoid their only remaining Umuedum land near the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUTH).

Speaking with journalists after the protest, Mr Chilota Chukwu, a triple Chief in Amuri, said all the natives of Umuedum decided to inform the government and other people about what is happening regarding the land.
He appealed to the state and local governments to investigate the matter and prevent people from selling the land.

He added that some people want to cause problem but they have resolved that they do not want to cause problem hence their decision to inform the government and other people through the media.

Also speaking, Onyekachi Okafor Egbo called on the government to assist them and stop the land grabbers from selling the land, noting that the land is the only property left for them after a chunk of their land was collected by ESUTH during the administration of Chimaraoke Nnamani.

Contributing, Vitus Owo, a titled chief who also participated in the protest that took place on the land, said they inherited the land from their forefathers, adding that during the construction of ESUTH, most of the land belonging to Umuedum was taken away.

He alleged that people who call themselves estate developers are already trespassing on the land and warned them to retrace their steps.

A woman identified as Virginia Agunwaokowa who also participated in the protest, noted that they have been farming on the land for years and appealed to government not to allow those who may be bigger than them to overpower them and sell their land.

“Government should help us, we heard that some people want to sell it, ESUTH is Umuedum land and they collected it from us without compensation, they should leave our land alone, ” she lamented.

Also speaking, , the traditional prime minister of Amankanu Amuri autonomous community maintained that the land belongs to Umuedum, adding that they have been using it for farming.

The traditional prime minister said they do not want land grabbers and fraudulent people to sell the land and pleaded with the government to come to their rescue.