Land dispute heightens tension in Anambra community, as opposing parties petition Police

By Our Correspondent

There is heightened tension at Ngene Okwuazu area of Umueri, Anambra East local government area of Anambra State, following a serious land dispute between two prominent indigenes of the community.

The dispute, between Chief Okwuji George Ndive and Chief Sam Emeka, the brother of the traditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Bennett Emeka, is already before the police as efforts by the elders of the community to resolve the matter have not yielded any fruit.

In the petition addressed to the Divisional Police Officer, Otuocha Police Station, Ndive accused Emeka of embarking in acts of intimidation and destroying materials he kept on his land for a building project, all in an attempt to forcefully acquire his land.

He said that despite the resolution passed by the Elders Council and signed by the chairman, Engr Mike Jideani and secretary, Chief Patrick Ndevi, directing Emeka to stop the claim, he has continued to use all kinds of tactics to cause confusion.

Ndive’s petition to the Police reads: “I was the first person to build a residential house in the Ngene Okwuazu area of Umueri. When I moved into my house in 1985, there was no one living there. Because I was the first settler in that area, the water front there was named after me as Okwuji’s Beach.

“Samuel Emeka attempted to build shops beyond his premises and Umueri Council of Elders destroyed those shops.

“In spite of the unanimous verdict given by Chaa, Akababa and Tana Age Grades in my favour, on the 9th of November, 2025 he (Emeka) along with some thugs, brought a caterpillar and scattered the 10 big trips of sand which I had dumped in front of my premises.

“He took that action in order to gain access to my fence. Earlier in the year, Chief Emeka had conspired with some people in the Physical Planning Unit of Anambra State to mark my fence for demolition as he had already taken a substantial part of the road earmarked by Umueri Community leaders. However, concerned bystanders, neighbours and relatives threatened a show-down on that faithful day and he quickly left.

“He is doing all these because he felt that I am incapable of reclaiming my land. Due to his action, all the materials I kept at the building site have been stolen.

“I pray the Nigeria Police to investigate the veracity of this matter and if it is established that Sam was wrong in blocking the space created by Umueri, in illegally conniving with officials of Anambra East Local Government Area and Physical Unit of Anambra East Local Government Area, then the Police should handle the matter according to the laws of Nigeria.”

Ndevi said he spent N200,000 with the assistance of the traditional ruler of Umueri to rebuild his fence, which was destroyed by Chief Emeka.

But Emeka denied the allegations, saying that it was Ndive that is creating tension in the area. He said: “The road in question passes through the entire Umueri to the river so that people can access their land along the road.

“When it was the turn of my age grade to assume leadership in the community, I was made the vice chairman and Ike Mokwugwo was the chairman. Later they conspired against me and I was not allowed to make contributions during meetings. They later imposed N200,000 fine on me because I insisted that the leadership should be for only those residing at Otu Umueri.

“My gate and seven shops I built in the area were destroyed and the culvert was covered. They told me that the traditional ruler, who happens to be my younger brother, was aware of their action. They also imposed another fine of N250,000 on me on the allegation that I blocked the road.

When they said that it was the Igwe that directed them to take the action, the royal father told me that he only asked them to close the culvert when they complained that it was affecting the free flow of traffic. He told me that he never knew they would destroy my property.

“I threatened to sue them but Igwe advised me not to go to court as he was sure the matter would be settled amicably, reminding me that those people might actually be after him. Igwe later set up a panel which decided that there should be access road but urged me to forget about my property that was destroyed. He also urged me to withdraw the matter from court.

“The chairman later died and as the vice, I assumed the position of the chairman. For the two years I was chairman, I surveyed the area and those whose property blocked the access road were identified.

“Land and survey officials also came there and marked all the property blocking the area. I was surprised when he claimed that he brought ten trips of sand when it was only one trip. I contributed N500,000 to make that road motorable. I did not touch his house.

“I did not pull down his fence. What happened was that after the caterpillar finished working on the road, part of his fence collapsed the following day. I agreed to repair the fence for him when he went to Igwe and asked him for money and the Igwe did. He is insisting that I must not build my house there, as if I am not from Umueri.”