Indigenes of Umuawafor, Umuokereke and Umunwogu 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 land for development projects.

The community made the appeal during a protest against reports that the state government had acquired land in the three villages for a proposed smart city project.

The protesters said the affected communities had already donated large portions of their ancestral land for various government projects, including the trailer park and the permanent site of the Abia State Polytechnic.

They therefore urged the government to consider other communities with available land for the proposed smart city project.

The villagers also expressed concern over the alleged acquisition of land already purchased by individuals for development, saying the move had created uncertainty among existing landowners and investors.

Spokesman for the affected villages, Comrade Friday Appolos, said the communities had suffered significant land losses over the years as a result of acquisitions and transactions involving persons claiming to be acting on behalf of the government.

He appealed to the state government to allow existing developers, including indigenes who had legally acquired portions of the land, to continue with their projects.

Appolos said: “We recall that the Abia State Government in the past acquired land for the permanent site of the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Osisioma Ngwa, and the larger part of it belongs to Umuawafor village, which has about 95 per cent of the land there.

“They also acquired massive portions of land for projects like the trailer park and other projects in Isiala Aro-Ngwa.

“The recent purported acquisition is frustrating. This is injustice, inhuman and unacceptable. We call on the Abia State Government to take note that those bringing them here to take our land are not our people.

“These affected villages have never for one day seen any government representatives. We call on the Abia State Government to leave the Aro-Ngwa people alone. Development must not start and end in Aro-Ngwa. There are other villages with enough land to give out. Ours is finished.”

Appolos said the community was concerned about where its people would live if the remaining land was acquired, adding that the residents wanted the government to respect their rights and engage them in any development plans affecting their ancestral land.

Meanwhile, counsel to some investors in the area, Mr. Obiora Edward, said his clients had approached the court after learning of the alleged government acquisition of their land.

According to him, the investors — Cyril Nwachukwu, Nkechi Nwachukwu and Emeka Nwachukwu — are indigenes of the area and had acquired the land for development.

He said the matter was before the court in Suit No. HOS/168/2025, adding that the case remained pending.

Edward said: “Some time last year, we got a rumour that the Abia State Government had acquired the land belonging to my clients. All efforts made to reach out to the government proved abortive.

“They went ahead to sue the government with Suit No. HOS/168/2025. Upon service of the suit on the government, it responded through a lawyer. The matter is still pending in court.”

He expressed concern that, despite the pending case, individuals reportedly linked to investors were planning to commence development activities on the disputed land.

Edward said his clients had documents supporting their ownership and had acquired the property specifically for development.

He argued that if the government intended to acquire the land, the affected owners should be properly notified and compensated in accordance with applicable laws.

“If the government wants the land, it should contact my clients, or it should leave the land alone because my clients are ready to develop this land whichever way the government wants it or pay adequate compensation,” he said.

Edward said the disputed property covered more than 140 plots.

The community urged the state government to engage with the affected landowners and residents to resolve the matter peacefully and prevent further disputes over the proposed development project. (Vanguard)

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