We Are Homeless - Umunya Villagers Protest Alleged Destruction Of Ancestral Land

Residents of Odumodu-Ani Village in Umunya, Oyi LGA of Anambra State, have raised an alarm over what they described as an alleged invasion and destruction of their ancestral farmland and property by an alleged land speculator, identified as Chinedu Ezekwesili, popularly known as Edu Baron. The aggrieved residents, including aged men and women, as well as youths and children, recently staged a protest in the community, carrying placards with inscriptions including 'Please, Governor Soludo, they have destroyed our farmlands and economic trees'; 'We are homeless'; 'Governor Soludo, our lives are in danger', among others.

When newsmen visited the area, large portions of the disputed land were seen to have been graded, while some buildings had been pulled down; several economic trees were uprooted. Members of the Eziudo Family told journalists that the property covered different individual family lands handed down through generations. According to them, the crisis started when Ezekwesili allegedly arrived with more than 300 men, suspected thugs and earth-moving equipment, claiming he had acquired the property; his men began chasing farmers away and commenced grading and demolition, uprooting planted crops and felling mature economic trees, and allegedly blocked a stream serving the community with sand.

Odumodu Umunya is known for garri production, but residents said the destruction had prevented them from cultivating their farmlands this year. 94-year-old Prince Ozoekwe Nwoye traced the history of the land, stressing it was inherited from their forefathers and never meant to be sold. Another resident, 75-year-old Israel Mbamalu, joined others to appeal to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Umunya PG Chief Chinedu Ekwugha, and Hon. Innocent Ojike to intervene.

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