Imo Communities Accuse Uzodimma Of Seizing 30,000 Hectares Of Land For Church Project
Six communities in the Mbaishii area of Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, have raised alarm over what they described as a “coordinated economic genocide”.
They accused Governor Hope Uzodinma and security agencies of forcefully seizing over 30,000 hectares of farmland for a private religious ministry.
At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, members of the community led by Dr. Ugojim Nwoko, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to call Governor Uzodinma and state-backed security operatives to order.
According to Nwoko, heavily armed personnel from the Nigerian Army and Police have been deployed since early 2025 to “occupy, destroy, and forcefully seize” ancestral farmlands across Eziama, Alulu, Amala, Ntu, Obokwe, and Oburu autonomous communities without consultation or legal acquisition.
“This is nothing short of economic genocide. More than 80% of our land, which is our only means of livelihood, has been forcefully taken and handed over to Evangelist Ebuka Obi and his Zion Ministry Inc. under a false claim of public purpose,” Nwoko said.
The land in question, spanning over 30,000 hectares, was said to be the subject of legal disputes as far back as 2006.
In separate suits filed by Umuokpo Ntu and Umuhoko Ntu villages, the Imo State High Court ruled in 2010 and 2011 that any acquisition attempts by the government were illegal and awarded perpetual injunctions against trespass.
Despite these, the communities said the land has now been covertly handed to a religious organization without any fresh acquisition process or compensation.
Nwoko stressed that, “No document of legal acquisition exists. There is no gazette, no payment, no public notice—just forceful occupation aided by military intimidation.”
The community cited Article 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, arguing that the takeover violates their rights to property, culture, and economic development.
“This is a community that depends solely on farming to pay school fees, fund health care, and survive,” Nwoko said adding that “Denying us access to our ancestral land is denying us the right to life itself.”
He added that the community’s peaceful efforts to resist the occupation include five ongoing court cases and formal petitions to relevant authorities.
Also speaking at the conference, Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, described the situation as a ticking security time bomb.
“This land seizure is not just an abuse of power under the Land Use Act — it is a dangerous provocation that could lead to widespread conflict,” Amadi said.
Amadi, a native of Ngor Okpala, said he took up the case pro bono out of concern for the brewing crisis.
“This is a classic example of using state power to rob the poor for the benefit of the powerful. The people are not against the church; they’re against illegal land grabs disguised as development.
“But the main issue is that Imo State, Ngor Okpala is now sitted at the cake of conflict arising from this illegal land grab by some persons using the subterfuge of government annexation. And it’s time to end this daylight robbery and save the State from violence and conflict,” he said.
Amadi questioned the legitimacy of transferring communal land to a private religious ministry under the pretext of “public purpose,” as required by the Land Use Act of 1978.
“The law is clear: compulsory land acquisition must be for demonstrable public use. Where is the plan? Where are the industries? What is the benefit to the community?” he asked and went on to say”Even the Redemption Camp and the Vatican don’t occupy this much land.”
The communities called for a halt to the land seizure and urged the federal government to intervene. They also demanded that anyone seeking land must negotiate directly with the communities and pay fair compensation.
“We are peaceful people. We have remained law-abiding despite these provocations. But we will not surrender our land, our heritage, to illegal occupation,” Nwoko added.
Imo Communities Accuse Uzodimma Of Seizing 30,000 Hectares Of Land For Church Project is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
