ENUGU: Fear, Tension Grip Ishiegu Owo Community In Nkanu East LGA, Over Alleged Land Grabbing

...Elders, Stakeholders Call For FG Intervention to Avert Impending Bloodshed

 Ishiegu Owo Community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State engulfed in fear, anguish, and uncertainty as residents raise alarm over what they describe as an orchestrated attempt to dispossess them of their ancestral land, an action they warn could spiral into a deadly crisis if urgent intervention does not come from the Federal Government.

At the heart of the controversy is an alleged and widely disputed claim that about 500 hectares of Ishiegu Owo communal land was donated to the Enugu State Government for an agro-processing project by HRH Igwe Okeke Arum, the Traditional Ruler of Mbulu Owo Community. The Ishiegu Owo people insist, with deep pain and outrage, that this claim is not only false but fraudulent, insisting that the land in question does not belong to Igwe Okeke Arum or his community and was never freely donated in the manner being portrayed.

According to the community, the disputed land lies at Eziagu Owo, sharing boundaries with Ebonyi State to the north, Ogere Owo to the west, and Ashishi Owo to the east, stretching through the Eke Owo General Market axis. They maintain that this land is the ancestral property of Ishiegu Owo people and has, over generations, served as their only hope for expansion, settlement, farming, and survival in the face of an ever-growing population.

Community leaders say their shock turned into alarm when reports surfaced online in September 2023 alleging that their land had been “donated” wholesale without their knowledge or consent. They categorically denied ever authorizing such a donation, stressing that at no time did they negotiate, lease, or cede their land to any individual, group, company, or government outside a clearly defined and lawful process.

In a bid to demonstrate goodwill and commitment to development, the Ishiegu Owo people explained that they formally engaged the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture after learning of the controversy. In a petition to the Ministry, they clearly stated that the land purportedly donated did not come from the rightful owners. Following dialogue and consultations, the community voluntarily agreed to donate 150 hectares of land to the Enugu State Government strictly for agricultural and agro-processing purposes. This agreement, they say, was based on mutual trust, transparency, and the understanding that a proper Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be executed to clearly define the size, location, and purpose of the land.

Beyond this, the community disclosed that they also made a separate donation of 12 hectares directly to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, as a gesture of appreciation and goodwill, and in support of his administration’s development agenda. Additionally, they emphasized that the 150 hectares allocated for the agricultural processing zone was formally routed through the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Patrick Uburu, in line with due process.

To further show sincerity, Ishiegu Owo people revealed that they sold some plots from another portion of their land to raise funds to properly lay out the area, construct access roads, and create a functional road network to support development. Many individuals who acquired these plots, some as far back as 18 years ago, have since built homes and other structures, turning the area into a living, breathing community.

However, their hope has since turned to despair. In September 2025, residents were reportedly served notices demanding the removal of buildings within seven days, a move that sent shockwaves through families who have lived on the land for decades. Mothers, children, farmers, and elderly residents now live in fear of displacement, homelessness, and violence.

Even more troubling are allegations attributed to HRH Igwe Okeke Arum, whom the Ishiegu Owo people accuse of openly referring to them as osu (outcasts) and slaves, claiming they are not aborigines of the land. According to the community, the traditional ruler allegedly vowed to “deal with” them until they are confined to only the portion they currently occupy, stripping them of their ancestral heritage and future

The community further alleged that despite protests during an inspection visit by the African Development Bank, where they clearly stated that the situation on ground did not reflect the agreed arrangement, they were urged to remain calm. They claim the Commissioner for Agriculture assured them that government would respect whatever the community agreed upon, pending approvals to facilitate funding. Shockingly, they say this narrative later changed, with claims emerging that the community had willingly given the government the hectares of land an assertion they flatly deny.

Residents insist that this land dispute predates the current administration, but lament that despite writing over seven letters to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, pleading for intervention, they have received no response. This silence, they fear, has emboldened those allegedly plotting to forcefully take over the land.

Perhaps the most frightening allegation is the claim that agents linked to Igwe Okeke Arum, named as Luke Nnamchi,

 Chigbo Egbo, Monday Ogbachiochiagha, Ezekiel Nome, Stephen Ndubuisi Nshiodo (aka Six Feet), Chinedu Nnamchi, Chukwuemeka Adenyi, and Osita Nnamani have openly threatened that “someone must die” on the disputed land so that the government can step in under a so-called peace intervention, a process through which land where bloodshed occurs is taken over by the state. The community describes this as a chilling and dangerous plot that could plunge the area into violence if not urgently checked.

In a further disheartening development, the Ishiegu Owo Community alleged that in the midnight hours of December 15, 2025, several innocent youths from the community were arrested in what they described as a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence them. According to the community, the arrests were allegedly orchestrated by HRH Igwe Okeke Arum through the Nigeria Police Force, deepening fear and tension among residents and reinforcing their claim that coercion and suppression are being used to weaken their collective voice in the ongoing land dispute.

The Ishiegu Owo people stress that their initial donation of 150 hectares was purely an act of gratitude and cooperation, not an invitation for forceful acquisition of their entire ancestral land. They lament that, to date, the Enugu State Government has not consented to or executed the proposed MoU that would clearly spell out the agreement, boundaries, and purpose of the donated land, leaving the community vulnerable to exploitation and displacement.

Today, Ishiegu Owo stands at a crossroads, grieving, frightened, yet resolute. They are calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria, relevant security agencies, human rights bodies, and well-meaning Nigerians to urgently intervene and prevent what they describe as an impending crisis fueled by land grabbing, intimidation, and alleged hate-driven threats.

In their distress call, the Ishiegu Owo Community also appealed directly to key political stakeholders and elected representatives to urgently intervene and avert the looming crisis. The community called on Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, the Member representing Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency, and Senator Kelvin Chukwu, the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, to rise in defense of their people, protect the community’s ancestral land, and use their offices in the National Assembly to ensure justice, peace, and the prevention of any form of violence or unlawful dispossession.

While families cling to their homes and farmlands, their cry is simple but profound: save our community, protect our ancestral land, and prevent bloodshed before it is too late.

For further clarification, the community refers the public to earlier publications in Pilot Newspaper dated September 10, 2020, and directs inquiries to Engr. Nathaniel Ekenedirichukwu Ogbu, President General of Ishiegu Owo Community, and Chief Emmanuel Ani, Secretary General, whose contacts are on record.

Their story is not just about land it is about dignity, identity, survival, and the right of a people to exist peacefully on the soil of their ancestors.

For the purpose of clarification, verification, or further inquiries, the Ishiegu Owo Community is legally represented by Uzoagbara Chambers, Solicitors and Advocates of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The firm is located at No. 56A Adelabu/Nise Street, Uwani, Enugu, and is duly mandated to handle all legal matters relating to the community’s land and the ongoing dispute. Interested parties and relevant authorities may contact the community’s legal representatives via the following official phone numbers: 042-257412, 08027132224, 08037205497, and 08050254461, to ensure that all communications and engagements are conducted through proper legal channels.