Residents of Enugwu-Agidi in Njikoka local council, Anambra State have cried out against activities of militia and thugs allegedly sponsored by a titled traditional leader in Awka South council, Ozo Jeff Nweke, to intimidate and forcefully grab the Mbanano community land.

The residents during a protest to Anambra state police command, also accused Nweke of taking advantage of his private security outfit, ‘Blue Shield Security’ to threaten their peaceful existence in the community. The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Ozo Stop stealing our land, CP Aderemi Adeoye, restored peace in Mbanano land, the land grabbers are fugitives from the law, and Governor Soludo save our community.”

Addressing the Anambra state commissioner of police, Adeoye Aderemi at the Command’s headquarters, spokesperson of group, Peter Onuekwusi, alleged that Nweke was also taking advantage of his real estate firms, Mango and Lion Property Nigeria Limited and Fourways Court Estate to appropriate ancestral lands belonging to Enugwu-Agidi community.

He listed the controversial lands encroached to include Agu Obibia farmland, Obuangwo farmland, Imeagu farmland, Ezionogo farmland and Okpuno farmland.He revealed that the land is in the Anambra State Government Gazette of 2005.

According to him, Enugwu-Agidi people are the real owners of the lands designated as Mbanano lands and obtained three favourable judgments with the latest being a Court of Appeal verdict in 2019, dismissing contention by Ozo Nweke that an appeal had been lodged at the Supreme Court to overturn their claim to the land.

Responding, the commissioner of police, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Anieten Eyo, said the notice has been taken on the fingered land grabbers and appreciated their peaceful protest.

“For now, we want the people to sheathe their swords. The plea for maintenance of peace is to avoid a situation where hoodlums would hijack the situation and cause breach of peace,” he said.