Protracted land dispute claims another life in Enugu community

The age-long land dispute between the Etiti Ngwo community in Udi Local Government Area and their neighbours in Umuku‑Apuke, Enugu South Local Government Area has claimed another life.

The latest development comes amid subsisting court judgments.

Residents of Etiti Ngwo are accusing their rivals of defying multiple court verdicts and violently encroaching on their land.

According to them, both the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court affirmed their ownership of the disputed area.

“They started demolishing our properties despite the judgment,” the Chairman of Etiti Ngwo Central community, Eze Daniel Onyejuwaka told journalists on Monday.

He narrated how the crisis escalated after a meeting with the Deputy Governor and the Enugu State Boundary Committee on July 10, 2025.

“What actually happened is that on Thursday, July 10, 2025, we went to the office of the Deputy Governor, who is the head of the Boundary Committee of Enugu State.

“We had a judgment over the dispute we have with the people of Umuku‑Apuke in the Enugu South Local Government.

“The Appeal Court gave us judgment, and the Supreme Court also upheld it.

“They later protested through their legal counsel to the Boundary Committee that we were trespassing. The state government intervened, and that same day, we were given judgment.

“Surprisingly, from that particular day, they went to the scene and started demolishing all the properties we had there.

“They laid an ambush and killed Sochima in cold blood,” he disclosed.

Onyejuwaka said that despite Etiti Ngwo’s decision to remain law‑abiding, the opposing community launched an armed ambush.

“As the last batch of our people were coming back from the site, the people of Umuguakom and their team laid ambush and started shooting.

“Eventually, they shot one of our brothers, Sochima Onoh, who died in cold blood,” he narrated.

He accused the Managing Director of Enugu State Geographic Information System (ENGIS), Mr. Chiwetalu Nwatu, of fueling the crisis.

“Despite all the activities of the Deputy Governor to resolve this issue, he went ahead and started reallocating the land or admitting people of Umu‑Ugwu Akum Akwuke, who had already been defeated in court, giving double allocations and things like that. This is where they got the momentum to start attacking us.

“We have lost three lives on this land,” he alleged.

The community leader made an emotional appeal:

“We are only using this medium to call on the state government, particularly the Governor of Enugu State, the Attorney‑General of the state, the Attorney‑General of the Federation, and all the judges and lawyers in this country to come to our aid so that the judgment given to us by both the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court can be honoured.

“This is the third person we are losing in this same land. We have lost the likes of Oliver Onoh, today again it’s Sochima, and particularly my own father died in the same process. It is so pathetic.”

Onyejuwaka said the Supreme Court verdict dates back to 2015, with subsequent attempts by their rivals to secure a stay of execution struck out as recently as 2021.

“In three occasions that they filed to the Supreme Court, all of them were struck out.

“When they had judgment, we never stepped into that land. When they had a judgment from the High Court, we left there and allowed them to do whatever they wanted until we got up here. I just don’t know why they are doing all this to us,” he further stated.

Despite the rising tension, he assured that Etiti Ngwo would not resort to violence:

“If you look around me, it’s not as if I don’t have people. But we are law‑abiding.

“That is why we are appealing to the Governor of Enugu State to make sure he ends this matter before it turns again into a communal crisis.”

Eyewitness account

An eyewitness, Obinna Onyia, tearfully recounted the moment Sochima was killed:

“We were on our way back and saw some people all wearing black.

“They started pursuing us and we were running without direction. The land was slippery because it had rained.

“My friend fell down, and I told him to stand up. He stood up and we continued running. He fell again and went into the bush to hide.

“They came and met him inside the bush and shot him. I saw them, but I couldn’t do anything.”

Officials react

When contacted, Mr. Chiwetalu Nwatu, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIS, denied the allegations, insisting he acted within his mandate.

“The land in question is Crown Land and as such belongs to the government.

“Rather than taking over the land and demolishing every property there, the administration of Governor Peter Mbah in its magnanimity is asking everyone with a property there to come forward for registration,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command confirmed the killing.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said: “On July 12, 2025, at about 3:35 pm, the Police received a distress report from Isiama Agu‑Ovolo in Etiti Ngwo community, alleging that youths from Umu‑Ugwu Akum Akwuke stormed their area at Ovolo Layout and shot one Onoh Sochima.

“Police operatives responded immediately and found the victim’s lifeless body with suspected gunshot wounds.

“He was taken to the hospital, confirmed dead, and his body deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”

SP Ndukwe added that preliminary investigations indicate the incident is linked to the ongoing land dispute, urging both communities to remain calm and avoid acts of self‑help while a full investigation continues.

As Enugu mourns yet another life lost, residents are calling on the state government and the courts to enforce their judgments and bring a lasting peace to the troubled land.

Protracted land dispute claims another life in Enugu community