JUST IN: Enugu Community Petitions Governor Mbah, IGP Over Alleged Plot to Take Over Ancestral Land

Fresh tension has gripped Enugu South Local Government Area as the people of Obeagu Awkunanaw Community have raised alarm over alleged plans to forcibly take over their ancestral land and renewed markings on their buildings by officials purportedly from the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).

In separate petitions to Governor Peter Mbah, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Chairman of ECTDA, the community alleged a renewed plot to unleash mayhem and resume demolitions similar to the “massive destruction and misery” they experienced in January 2024.

The petitions were jointly signed by Hon. Mike Ogbonna (President General), Reuben N. Okafor (Secretary General), and Chief Christian Egbo (Traditional Prime Minister) of Obeagu Community.

In a protest letter dated October 6, 2025, addressed to the ECTDA Chairman, the community expressed dismay over the activities of unidentified persons who allegedly claimed to be ECTDA officials and marked several structures in the area for demolition.

“We were shocked when we observed a handful of persons who, without proper identification, later identified themselves as officials from your office and were sent to mark some of our structures for removal,” the community wrote.

They reminded the ECTDA Chairman of pending court cases over the disputed land, including Suit No. E/1081/2019 and E/263/2020, both of which remain unresolved, warning against any action that could be deemed subjudice or unlawful.

In another petition dated October 5, 2025, addressed to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the community raised an SOS alert over alleged plans by the Commander of the Enugu State Forest Guard, retired DCP Olasoji Akinbayo, to deploy his men for a “forceful takeover” of their communal land in alleged collusion with “vicious land grabbers.”

The petition accused the retired police officer of having a history of victimization and brutalization of community members during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in Enugu State.

“Our community was visibly placed under siege as the said retired DCP Olasoji, at the behest of land grabbers, used truckloads of police officers to garrison our community, arresting and arraigning members on trumped-up charges. None of the charges was sustained in court,” the letter read.

While commending Governor Mbah for his developmental strides, the community urged him to intervene urgently to prevent a “looming breakdown of law and order.”

Similarly, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, also dated October 5, 2025, and copied to the AIG, FCID Annex, Enugu, the community expressed fears that retired DCP Olasoji was planning to use the Forest Guard to execute his alleged plot following the IGP’s directive warning officers against involvement in land disputes.

“It is easy to discern that resort to the members of the Forest Guard by retired DCP Olasoji and his co-conspirators is a result of your stern warning to police officers against interference in land matters,” the petition stated.

As of the time of filing this report, none of the accused parties, the ECTDA, the Forest Guard Commander, or the Enugu State Government, had officially responded to the allegations.