Landowners from Umunenweze Okaiuga Nkwoegwu, Ohuhu, Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, staged a peaceful protest at Government House Umuahia, accusing monarch, Paul Onuigbo Uzuegbu and Village Head Ejikeme Emereuwa of illegal land sales.
The protesters claimed that Paul Onuigbo Uzuegbu has been deposed as monarch, questioning the authority under which he is allocating community lands to developers.
Speaking through their Secretary, Okechukwu Izuegbu, the protesters alleged that Uzuegbu has been allocating their communal land to developers and agents using the name of the Abia State Government.
Izuegbu said a greater portion of the community’s land had been destroyed by bulldozers allegedly brought in by Uzuegbu’s agent, Okechukwu Ndukwe from Amuzukwu. He added that a village school in Nkwoegwu was removed from its initial location, leaving the land fallow.
He told journalists that the land is subject of an ongoing court case and an injunction bars any sale or development, restricting use to farming only.
Izuegbu said despite the order, Uzuegbu proceeded to hand the land to Ndukwe, who has continued to clear it and destroy everything on the land.
He further accused Uzuegbu of impersonating community executives by bringing outsiders to sign documents as chairman and secretary of the village.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions: “Uzuegbu is no longer king, stop grabbing our lands”, “Our Land, Our Right”, and “We say no to illegal grabbers”.
Addressing the protesters, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Government, Magdalene Ugoanusi, commended the peaceful protest and assured them the government would revisit the matter.
She said she would contact their House of Representatives member, Hon. Obi Aguocha, and the state land dispute committee for immediate action.
Ugoanusi urged the community to avoid violence, noting that Governor Alex Otti’s administration does not tolerate trouble in the local government areas.
All efforts to reach Uzuegbu and the Village Head for comments were unsuccessful as of press time.
