Follow Us on Google
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Scores of indigenes of Ugwuto, Nsude community, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Sunday, staged a peaceful protest over what they described as the unlawful takeover of their ancestral land by Enpower Energy Ltd.
The company is allegedly owned by Emeka Ene from Umuabi in Udi.
The protesters, including elderly men, women, youths and children, marched through their civic centre carrying placards and chanting: “We no go gree ooo” and “No to land grabbers.” Some of the placards read: “Enpower, Leave Our Land Alone,” and “Governor Peter Mbah, Save Us From Land Grabbers.”
Speaking to journalists, an elder of the community, Vincent Ukwuani, said the alleged encroachment started in 2019, adding that the matter is already in court but the firm has continued to enter the land.
“The people claimed that Enpower came to our land without authorization and began to destroy our crops. They came with bulldozer. What prompted today’s protest is that they came again last month and destroyed our land even when the matter is still pending in court,” he said.
Another protester, Linus Ugwuoga, vowed that the community would resist the alleged invasion.
“The matter was adjourned to December 19, 2025, yet they are still in our land destroying crops. We have other government projects here like water reservoir and International Market, but we never complained. But these people called Enpower, we don’t know them.”
A former council chairmanship candidate, Emeka Ozochi, accused the company of using security agents to intimidate villagers.
“They will arrest innocent people just to intimidate them with 9th Mile Police and DRS,” he alleged, adding that the community has a government-approved master plan for the Ugwuto Hilltop Layout.
He further claimed the life of their President-General has been threatened due to the dispute.
The protesters also insisted that Ugwuto has donated land for key state projects, including the Enugu International Market, twin water tanks, Ebeano Bypass and the ancient Igbo Pyramids, yet has received no compensation.
“Even though the twin tanks supplying water to Enugu metropolis are located on our land, the community does not have pipe born water after over four decades,” one resident lamented.
They appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to intervene, halt what they described as land grabbing and ensure justice while the court case continues.
