Residents of three villages in Isiala Aro-Ngwa Autonomous Community, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State, have appealed to the state government to stop further acquisition of their ancestral land for development projects.
The affected communities — Umuawafor, Umuokereke and Umunwogu — made the demand during a protest over an alleged plan by the government to acquire land for a proposed smart city project.
The protesters said they had already surrendered large portions of their ancestral land for government projects, including the trailer park and the permanent site of the Abia State Polytechnic.
They therefore called on the government to consider other communities with available land for the proposed development.
Community raises concern over land losses
Spokesman for the affected villages, Comrade Friday Appolos, said residents had suffered significant land losses over the years through government acquisitions and transactions allegedly carried out by people claiming to represent the state.
He also expressed concern over reports that some land already purchased by individuals for development was included in the proposed acquisition.
“The recent purported acquisition is frustrating. This is injustice, inhuman and unacceptable.”
Appolos said the community wanted the government to respect the rights of existing landowners and engage residents before taking any further steps.
He also pointed to previous acquisitions for projects including the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic and trailer park, saying a large portion of the land used for the projects came from Umuawafor and neighbouring communities.
“Development must not start and end in Aro-Ngwa. There are other villages with enough land to give out. Ours is finished.”
The community spokesman said residents were worried about where future generations would live if more ancestral land was taken.
Investors take land dispute to court
Meanwhile, a lawyer representing some investors in the area, Obiora Edward, said his clients had taken the matter to court after learning of the alleged government acquisition.
The investors — Cyril Nwachukwu, Nkechi Nwachukwu and Emeka Nwachukwu — are indigenes of the area who reportedly acquired the disputed property for development.
Edward said the matter is currently before the Abia State High Court in Suit No. HOS/168/2025.
According to the lawyer, his clients had made attempts to contact the government before filing the case, but the dispute remains unresolved.
He said the disputed property covers more than 140 plots and urged the government to either leave the land with the owners or engage them in accordance with the law.
“If the government wants the land, it should contact my clients… or it should leave the land alone.”
The community is now calling for dialogue between the state government, residents and affected landowners to resolve the dispute peacefully and prevent further conflict over the proposed smart city project.
Source: Statements by community representatives and counsel to affected landowners.
