The residents of Ezinano community in Awka South local government area of Anambra state have adamantly pledged not to relinquish their ancestral land to any individual or group. They expressed a steadfast readiness to defend this heritage, passed down from their forefathers, even at the risk of their lives.
This land, they asserted, has come under dispute from individuals representing Enugwu-Agidi Community in Njikoka Local Government Area, allegedly in collaboration with the Police.
During a recent march to survey the land, the community members were confronted by armed police officers who had been instructed to prevent entry to the contested area. Tensions escalated when the officers unexpectedly opened fire and deployed tear gas, inciting chaos among the residents and journalists present to cover the protest. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but 14 journalists narrowly avoided serious harm, while four sustained injuries during the turmoil.
Following the incident, a prominent community member, Kanayo Obidigbo, addressed the press, highlighting how the police presence on the land had halted any developmental progress. Obidigbo accused certain police authorities, including a Deputy Commissioner of Police, of displaying a vested interest in the disputed territory.
He urged the Inspector General of Police, Egbetokun Olukayode, to launch an investigation into the matter and order the withdrawal of police operatives from the contested land.
He said: “We are here to inspect Agu Nawgu. This is a land that our forefathers won in conquest. It is a vast land of about 60 kilometers radius. We grew up to know this land and it has a 1949 survey plan by our fathers who were illiterate.
“They gave out the land to Enugwu-Agidi people on rent to be cultivating, but later our forefathers sent them packing when they stopped paying rent.
“The land in question belongs to Ezinano community of Awka, which has about 20 villages. Even the estates you see here belong to Awka people.
“The police presence on our land is unacceptable. The men were sent here by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, whose interest we do not know.
“They have stalled development in this site. I have a building here, but I can’t continue with work because of police presence in the area.
“You are all witnesses today how police were shooting at us, defenceless Awka indigenes. Yet they told the IGP they did not post operatives to our land.”
When contacted, Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye denied deploying any police operatives to the land.
He however failed to state who deployed the operatives to the land as alleged by the protesting indigenes.
