The people of Nguru Nsukka in Enugu State have raised concerns over what they describe as an attempt by local authorities to forcefully take over their ancestral land.

Community members claim officials from the Nsukka Local Government Area are seizing their land without following any legal process or consulting them.

They say the takeover is being done under the pretense of building an international market.

On Saturday morning, security personnel reportedly stormed the disputed land to stop a planned protest by the villagers.

Despite the heavy presence of armed officers, residents gathered at their traditional ruler’s palace and later marched through the town to express their anger.

They accused the local government chairman, Mr. Jude Asogwa, of handling the issue with force and without respect for the law.

They said his approach is in sharp contrast to Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, which is known for promoting lawful and peaceful development.

Leaders of the community, including Chief Builder Ugwu Ignatius, Mr. Ozioko Ejiofor, and High Chief Ozioko Thomas Obute, told journalists that the council chairman has not spoken with the community or signed any agreement before moving into their land.

They stressed that while they are open to development, government must follow due process, which includes community engagement, negotiations, compensation, and formal agreements.

The people also rejected claims that the land belongs to Odoro Nsukka.

They argued that Odoro is not a recognized community and has no ancestral claim to the area.

They said the land belongs solely to Nguru Nsukka and vowed not to allow false history or intimidation to take it from them.

In addition to the land seizure, the community accused the local government of destroying their farmland, including crops such as pepper, tomatoes, cucumbers, and garden eggs.

They said no project will be allowed on the land until an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed and all legal steps are followed.

The villagers also questioned why the government chose their land, pointing out that over 80 hectares of unused government land lies directly opposite the disputed area.

They also mentioned that during former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s time, vast plots of land were acquired across Nru Nsukka, Ede-Oballa, and Ehalumona, which still remain undeveloped.

The people urged Governor Mbah to act swiftly and stop what they describe as illegal and unfair treatment from the council chairman.

They also called on the Nigerian Police to protect them from threats, harassment, and abuse of power.

Efforts to get the chairman’s side of the story were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages as of the time of this report.