Residents of Umuonyima autonomous community in Owerri municipal on Thursday staged a dramatic protest with a coffin, accusing a contractor working for the Imo State government of forcibly seizing their ancestral land along the Otamiri river.
The protesters said the symbolic coffin was meant to underline the “death of justice” in the ongoing dispute, which they described as a brazen violation of their property rights and a direct assault on land handed down by their forebears.
Charles Ucheoma, Secretary-General of the Elders’ Council, told journalists that the crisis began after Chinedu Chukwunonye Company allegedly breached an agreement brokered by the state government. Under the deal, the company was to take only 35 metres of the 170-metre stretch from the river base.
“Instead of respecting that boundary, they moved to take everything,” Ucheoma said. “They destroyed our crops, ignored peaceful engagements, and left the community in fear and uncertainty.”
He added that the community holds valid ownership documents issued by the Ministry of Lands in 2021, and has submitted multiple petitions to relevant authorities without any decisive action taken.
Ucheoma warned that natives are now prepared to deploy both legal and traditional measures to defend what remains of their heritage. “We have fulfilled our obligations, including paying revenue to the state. We cannot understand why this is happening with government supervision.”
Youth representative, Ikechukwu Nze, labelled the company’s actions “land grabbing”, vowing that youths would resist further encroachment. Women also raised alarms about their survival. Mrs. Fidelia Uzoma said farmlands and seasonal crops have already been destroyed.
“This land feeds our families. After past encroachments by government and developers, this is all we have left,” she said, appealing to Governor Hope Uzodimma to intervene and halt the contractor’s activities.
