On Saturday, July 5, 2025, residents of Umuezenevu Village in Ibute-Egede Autonomous Community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, staged a protest against alleged land grabbing on their ancestral land, registered as Phoenix Layout Phases One to Four along the 9th Mile–Obollo Afor highway. Joined by men, women, and youth organizations, including the community’s land committee, the protesters marched from Awele Udeh Civic Hall to the disputed site, carrying placards urging Engr. Hyginus Agu, Chairman of Udi Local Government, and Governor Peter Mbah to stop the impunity of land grabbers. Elder Patrick Onodu, Chairman of Umuezenevu Village, told journalists that unidentified individuals, without negotiation or consent, entered the land, destroyed economic trees, and damaged farmland, causing losses estimated at over ₦5 billion. He declared any transactions on the land without the approval of the community and its traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Igwe Dr. Ikenna Okwesili, as null and void, demanding the immediate removal of bulldozers and caterpillars.
Youth leaders corroborated Onodu’s account, noting that for two to three months, trespassers had destroyed cash crops vital to their livelihood. Following a report to Ezi Nze Police Station, investigations revealed EYA Homes Ltd as a key perpetrator. A meeting arranged by the police at Dragon Events Center, Enugu, with the company’s Managing Director, Hon. Chinedu Eya, resulted in an agreement to halt work and remove equipment, which EYA Homes Ltd failed to honor, resuming activities instead. Mrs. Bukki Anubueze and Mrs. Angela Mbaeze, women leaders, expressed concerns that the incursion threatens their farming activities and future housing prospects for their children. Elder Onodu warned the public against dealing with land speculators and appealed to Governor Mbah, known for his stance against land grabbing, to intervene, emphasizing the community’s commitment to peace and the rule of law.
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