Umueri man, 95 vows to lead war against Aguleri over land, accuses Obiano of compromise

A 95-year old man, Nnake Chibuzo on Wednesday led the people of Ikenga Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area to protest alleged land grabbing in his community by their Aguleri neighbours.

The two communities had over time fought wars, killing scores of people and destroying property worth millions of naira over land .

The state government had in January instituted a panel to find immediate and remote causes of the lingering land disputes in the area as well as identify, determine and demarcate the boundaries between the two communities.

On Wednesday, the nonagenarian led the Ikenga Umueri Progressive Union in a protest over what he called constant encroachment on their land by their Aguleri neighbour.

He accused Aguleri of using the advantage of their son(Willie Obiano) being the governor of the state to lord things over them.

Also speaking the Chairman of the Umueri union, Frank Ibegbunam said a certain resolution by some traditional rulers for peace in the area was rejected by the town as none of its members was part of the negotiations.

He urged the boundary committee and state government to discountanance the resolution, calling on both federal and state governments to cause the implementation of a white paper and court judgement on the disputed area for lasting peace to return in the place.

He said, “This matter has been a torn in our flesh and torture to our brains. We can’t predict our peace as suspicion is rife. We had thought the governor who is almost right years in office would have addressed this matter.

“When the panel was set up, we were happy, thinking it would be fair and firm in view of the calibre of members. But we lost confidence in the process when politics came in.

“It’s unfortunate we’ve not got a government that has the will power to address this matter. Despite our documentary evidence to prove ownership of our property, our neighbours use game plan to change our identity.

“The implementation of the white paper will bring everlasting peace to both communities. Government should also beg our representative in the National Assembly and other money bags to stop causing problem between us.”