The Ezioha Mgbowo community in the Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State has appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to constitute an investigative panel into the alleged invasion and illegal leasing of their ancestral land at Ugwunzu to private individuals.
In a statement signed by Jeffrey Ndubeze on behalf of the Mgbowo Stakeholders Forum, the community raised the alarm over a “clandestine and malicious” destruction of farmlands and economic trees belonging to widows and the elderly.
The community is demanding an inquiry into a purported 99-year leasehold claimed by private developers over land originally earmarked for a federal housing project.
According to the community, the crisis began in December 2025 when bulldozers, allegedly supervised by one individual, popularly known as ‘Osama,’ moved into active farmlands.
Osama was said to have rebuffed all peaceful overtures from the traditional ruler of Ekpulato Mgbowo, HRH Igwe Gregory Ikwuagwu Ituma.
“The machines destroyed crops and economic trees belonging to villagers who depend on these farms for their survival.
“When confronted, the individual claimed he possessed government authorization and had nothing to discuss with the community,” the statement read.
The Mgbowo leadership expressed bitterness over the alleged refusal of local authorities and security agencies to intervene.
The community indicted the council political leadership and the police for allegedly failing to halt the destruction despite heightened tensions.
The community noted that while part of the land was previously requested for public housing with a 30 percent equity participation agreement for Mgbowo, the project was abandoned decades ago.
“We are asking whether land acquired for a public housing project can legally be leased to a private individual for 99 years without any consultation with the host community or the state government,” the statement added.
The community revealed that it took the direct intervention of a revered community leader, General Okwudili Azinta, to reach Mbah, who subsequently directed that all construction activities on the site be halted.
The community, however, demands to the Enugu State Government to probe the “legitimacy of the alleged 99-year leasehold and the roles played by local authorities.
The residents also wants, “An investigation into the refusal of the police to record statements from community leaders or stop the carnage.
“This struggle is not merely about farmland; it is about protecting our ancestral heritage and the economic survival of our people; we they remain committed to a peaceful and lawful resolution.”
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