A fresh wave of tension has erupted between two neighbouring Enugu communities—Etiti Ngwo and Umugwuakum Atakwu Akwuke—following the violent demolition of a residential-commercial building in a disputed area of land already adjudicated in favour of Etiti Ngwo by the Supreme Court.
In the recent attack, property worth millions of naira was destroyed by thugs allegedly sent by the people of Atakwu Akwuke.
Speaking to newsmen about the attack, Chief Onoh MC, Legal Advisor to the Etiti Ngwo community, decried the incident as a “clear case of criminal trespass and malicious damage” by suspected youths from Atakwu Akwuke, who allegedly stormed the property of Mr. Uchenna Onoh on May 9, 2025, and razed it down—despite a standing Supreme Court judgment affirming Etiti Ngwo’s ownership of the land.
“This case dates back to 1989 when both communities went to court over land known as Agu Ovolo, Isiama and Ebemi land. Though Etiti Ngwo initially lost at the High Court, the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling in 2015, and the Supreme Court upheld it,” Chief Onoh said.
Chief Onoh traced the land dispute to as far back as 1989 when both communities took their grievances to court over land known as Agu Ovolo, Isiama and Ebemi land. While the High Court initially ruled in favour of Atakwu Akwuke, the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2015 and subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.
“Following the court rulings, Etiti Ngwo took possession of the land as ordered by the Enugu State High Court. The community then distributed parcels to adult males, including my client Mr. Uche Nna Onoh,” said Chief Onoh.
Despite this legal finality, youths from Atakwu Akwuke have allegedly continued to provoke tensions. According to Chief Onoh, “they have persistently incited individuals who purchased land from Atakwu Akwuke with defective titles, urging them to defy court orders. This has led to a series of violent acts, including arson, destruction of fences, and demolition of buildings belonging to Etiti Ngwo indigenes.”
“On multiple occasions, houses have been burned and properties destroyed. The latest attack was the most alarming. A group of armed youths invaded my client’s property, pulled down the gates, removed all doors, riddled the roof with bullets, and damaged everything inside. This occurred just days after we appeared in court with one of the claimants from Atakwu Akwuke, who attempted to seek an injunction against our client,” Chief Onoh explained.
He added that the attack seemed coordinated and premeditated, coming shortly after the opposing party expressed displeasure in court over a preliminary objection filed by Etiti Ngwo’s lawyers. “They threatened to take action, and just days later, they did. We have names of the individuals involved and trust that the law will soon catch up with them.”
The incident has sparked concerns within Etiti Ngwo, whose members are growing restless. “Our youths are angry, but we are urging them to remain calm and allow due process. This attack lasted over four hours, with gunshots heard throughout the night. Attempts to get the police to intervene were unsuccessful until the damage was done,” said Chief Onoh.
Adding complexity to the matter is the alleged involvement of the Enugu State Boundary Commission and the Enugu State Geographic Information Service (ENGIS). Chief Onoh cited a court document where one of the Atakwu Akwuke litigants claimed that they were directed by the Boundary Commission to approach ENGIS for land registration.
“This is worrisome,” said Chief Onoh. “Why is ENGIS registering lands in a legally resolved dispute area? The Boundary Commission has not released any white paper or report, yet they are allegedly directing registration. This creates confusion and undermines court verdicts.”
Etiti Ngwo has therefore made two formal demands:
- The Boundary Commission must immediately release the outcome of its findings on the land dispute, which has been pending since September 2024.
- ENGIS should suspend all land registration activities within the disputed area until a formal directive is issued by the Boundary Commission.
Speaking on his ordeal, Mr. Uchenna Onoh, the owner of the destroyed property, described his plight as heartbreaking and financially ruinous.
“I am a civil servant with no other property. I refused to sell the land to a man who claimed to be a reverend father. I wanted to build something for my children’s future. I started constructing seven lock-up shops with residential space above. The structure was demolished three times. The third time, I had finished the entire building with borrowed funds. They destroyed everything—the roof, plumbing, aluminium works, doors, and even tiles. They broke and scattered a whole trailer-load of tiles meant for the building.”
Mr. Onoh said he had reported to the police, community leaders, and his lawyer, and had engaged private security. “Still, they returned and ruined everything. Now I am in debt and trauma. I’m pleading with the government to step in and publish the boundary white paper to avert further escalation.”
BOUNDARY COMMISSION REACTS
When contacted, the secretary of Enugu State Boundary Commission, Dr. Ejim, told our correspondent that though they are aware of the disputed boundary, the report of their findings is not yet out, and when it is ready, all the parties involved will be made aware of it.
He also dismissed as totally false any claim by any of the parties that the report is in their favour, adding that only the Chairman of the Commission, who is the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, will release the report, but it’s not yet out.
Dr. Ejim noted that the commission isn’t aware of the renewed crisis in the area and assured of their commitment to entertain such a complaint if it’s brought before them.
Enugu State Geographic Information Service (ENGIS) Remains Silent.
Efforts to get a reaction from ENGIS on the alleged registering of the same land for the people of Atakwu Akwuke proved abortive as they are yet to reply to a mail sent to the Managing Director of the Service.
The situation remains tense, and community leaders warn that failure to act quickly could result in broader conflict. “This matter has reached a boiling point,” Chief Onoh emphasised. “The government must intervene now to prevent a full-blown communal crisis.”
