Ozalla community protests alleged ancestral land dispute in Enugu

2026-03-13 - 06:26

By Chinedu Adonu Residents of Umuene in Amigbo village, Ishi-Ozalla community in Nkanu West Local Government Area, on Thursday staged a protest over an alleged attempt to take over a piece of land the community claims as its ancestral property. The protesters, said to be descendants of the late Nwafor Ogbodo Nwachi, accused a man identified as Mike Onu of attempting to take possession of the land without the consent of the family. The demonstrators marched through parts of the community and later moved toward sections of Enugu metropolis carrying placards with inscriptions including “Our grandfather’s land is not your property, hands off now,” “Stop the land grabbing,” and “No consent, no construction.” Speaking with journalists during the protest, Dr. Modester Chekwube Muoneke alleged that members of the family had been sidelined in the dispute and were seeking public attention to their grievances. According to her, the family discovered in 2025 that construction activities had begun on the land by a person they identified as Onu, whom they alleged claimed to have purchased the property. Muoneke said the family subsequently filed a petition to challenge the claim of ownership. She alleged that the individual purported to have sold the land later denied carrying out any such transaction. She further claimed that construction began on the land without the presentation of documents confirming ownership, prompting the family to initiate legal action. “Our appeal is for the relevant authorities to look into the matter. We want justice and the protection of our ancestral land,” she said. Muoneke also called on the Enugu State Government and security agencies to intervene in the dispute to ensure a peaceful resolution. Mike Onu reacts Responding to the allegations, Onu maintained that he lawfully acquired the land and followed due process in the transaction. He declined to comment extensively on the matter, noting that the issue is already before a court of law. “I followed every due process in acquiring the land and I have the necessary documents. The matter is already in court,” he said. The dispute has since drawn attention within the Ozalla community, with residents calling for authorities to investigate the claims and ensure that the legal process determines ownership of the property.