Women take to streets, allege fraud in Ebonyi community’s land demarcation process

Amah Samuel-Ugbor Nnachi , South East Regional Editor

Allegations of fraudulent activities by government officials sparked a peaceful protest by aged women from Ishinkwo community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, who are demanding transparency in the ongoing land demarcation exercise with neighboring Abaomege community.

The Ebonyi State government in its efforts to permanently end the intractable land dispute between Ishinkwo and Abaomege communities in Onicha LGA, commenced demarcation of the disputed land as part of terms of settlement contained in the released government white paper.

The women who stormed the Old Government House, Abakaliki, carrying placards with different inscriptions such as: “Gov Nwifuru, father of the State, please, come to our aid”, “Where is the map attached to the white paper?”, “Enough is enough to land grabbing, follow the white paper”, “Ekeroku, stop taking sides and be neutral”, “Return Ugwuekuma Primary School to Ishinkwo, it’s our ancient land mark”, among others, called on Governor Nwifuru to intervene.

The women, who also marched to the State House of Assembly Complex to register their complaints, accused the Council Chairman of Onicha LGA, Mr Ikechukwu Ogboffia, of allegedly colluding with the land demarcation committee to grab Ishinkwo land for his Abaomege Community.

In an open letter addressed to Governor Nwifuru, signed by National President, Women Wing of Ishinkwo Community Development Union, Mrs Fidelia Nworie and 12 others, which they made available to Journalists, the women alleged that the ongoing demarcation exercise is fundamentally flawed, totally skewed, and was capable of breaching the peace building efforts of government.

They accused the deputy Surveyor General of the State, Mr Ekeroku of executing the demarcation exercise without reference to the white paper, the legal basis of the exercise, which according to them, renders the exercise illegal, null, and void, as no one can place something on nothing and expect it to stand.

“The demarcation is being executed without reference to the White Paper, the legal basis of the exercise. Which renders the exercise illegal, null, and void, as no one can place something on nothing and expect it to stand.

“The Survey Map, which is a critical component of the White Paper, has also been disregarded by the Deputy Surveyor-General of the State, Mr. Ekeroku. Despite all our entreaties, Mr. Ekeroku has blatantly refused to make the Map available to guide the demarcation, choosing instead to rely on intuition.

“The actions of Mr. Ekeroku and Mr. Ogboffia have not only undermined the peace process but have also created an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. We request Your Excellency to intervene to reinvigorate the peace building”, the Women concluded.

Reacting, the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, Hon. Ikechukwu Ogboffi, called for peace and denied allegations of land grabbing.

He said, “I call for peace from the two communities. It’s important to embrace the peace instead of engaging in actions capable of truncating the peace efforts of the Ebonyi State government.”