Thousands of women of Enugwu-Agidi in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Friday, protested round the community against what they termed land grabbing and high-handedness by the President-General of the community, Ebuka Onuorah.

The protesters, mostly elderly and middle-aged women, carried placards and sang protest songs, appealing to the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to investigate Onuorah’s activities.

They warned that the development may cause mayhem in the community if not nipped in the bud.

The aggrieved women marched round the community, singing and making unprintable remarks about Onuorah.

They vowed to resist any attempt by the government and its agents to deprive their children of their inheritance.

Speaking to journalists during the protest, the Women Leader and Chairlady of Etiti village, Mrs Grace Aghauche, described the development as unfortunate.

She said, “The PG wants to turn us to refugees in our community; but we can’t be turned into Internally Displaced Persons on our own land because of his land grabbing activities.

“We are the women of Enugwu-Agidi. We are here to let the world hear our cry, especially our state governor because all our efforts to let them listen to us have been scuttled.

“The PG is intimidating the women and has abandoned the Constitution of the community. The women of the community have the Constitution guiding us, but the PG, is using his position to impose leadership on us and we categorically reject this.

“Apart from this, he encroaches on our lands. We have written several petitions, but nothing has happened. Day-by-day, he encroaches on our land with impunity and sharing the land among themselves.

“We want the PG removed over these notorious acts and we’re using this opportunity to appeal to our governor to look into this development and intervene so that peace will return to the community.”

Speaking to journalists, another protester, identified as Chinwe Udo, said, “The PG is using security personnel to harass and intimidate perceived enemies, especially those who challenged his alleged evils against the community.

“Enugwu-Agidi ancestral farmlands are being sold out indiscriminately without prior notice, we no longer go to farm, because there is no more land to farm as all our farmlands are being sold.

We call on the governor to intervene in this situation for us.”

However, in its reaction to the development, the traditional ruler of Enugwu-Agidi, Igwe Michael Chidozie Okekeuche, through his Chief Press Secretary, Ichie Ifeanyi Ndulue, said it received the petitions of the protesters with deep concern, and urged them to remain peaceful as efforts are ongoing to address their concerns.

The monarch said, “The troubling reports of an ongoing protest in our land, a protest rooted in pain, injustice, and a desperate cry for peace. We are witnessing what no community should ever endure.

“Allegations of rampant land grabbing, abuse of power by those entrusted with leadership, disruption of sacred burial and funeral rites in Etiti Village, rites that bind us to our ancestors and the imposition of parallel leadership structures allegedly fueled by the Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union Nigeria, threatening the unity of our people.

“These actions have sown confusion, provoked unrest, and pushed our peaceful community to the brink. His Majesty fully recognizes the right of every Enugwu-Agidi indigene, young or old, man or woman, to raise their voices in peaceful protest. Your cry has been heard.

“Your grievances are not being ignored. But let us also remember: anger is not our tradition; violence is not our heritage. Enugwu-Agidi was built on dialogue, respect, and brotherhood. That is our true power.

“In line with the powers vested in him by Article 40, Sections 1 and 6 of the Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union Constitution, and in accordance with the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law 2007, Section 15, Subsection (I), His Royal Highness calls on all our people to show restraint, even in the face of provocation. Let us not allow chaos to consume what generations before us laboured to build.”

However, when contacted, the embattled community PG, Ebuka Onuorah, denied all allegations of land grabbing and every other infraction on members of the community.(PUNCH)