Abba and Ukpo are towns located in Njikoka Local Government and Dunukofia Local Government Areas, respectively, of Anambra state. Both are neighbouring towns and about five minutes’ drive from Awka, the Anambra state capital. Recently, they have been on the news over land dispute with each laying equal claim over the ownership of the land. The land in question was initially in dispute between Abba and Ukwulu community. Ukwulu is another neighbouring community to Abba located in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state. Originally, the land dispute was between Ukwulu and Abba and the dispute dates back to the early 1960s, a letter by Abba community has claimed.
Anambra oil magnet and business mogul; Prince Arthur Eze, who is a prince of Ukpo community has been repeatedly pointed in person and accused of employing intimidating tactics relying on his vast wealth and networks to cause “harassment, intimidation and victimization” to Abba community. Prince Arthur Eze has been vocal and openly made comments about the land dispute in favour of Ukpo his community. Abba, a successful businessman and the owner of Best Aluminum Chief Pius Nweke, has also shown open support for his community. Chimamanda Adichie the literary icon is from Abba and has also spoken against the alleged use of intimidation by the Ukpo community, championed by their son; Prince Arthur Eze, against Abba her community.
In a video, while addressing some elders during the 2019 Ofala Festival, Prince Arthur Eze had claimed that he paid the communities laying claim to the land under dispute the sum of One hundred million Naira to leave the land for Ukpo.
However, there is a renewed agitation by Abba community against Ukpo community’s claim over the land ownership, following the demolition of Chief Nweke mansion’s perimeter fence, about three days ago. This has led to protest by Abba community as well as direct accusation of Vincent Oyiliagu the President General of Ukpo community. In another development, Pius Nweke of Best Aluminum who was accused of being in possession of an unlicensed gun by police was arrested. Chief Nweke’s arrest has intensified the protest with many accusing Prince Arthur of masterminding the arrest.
The stake is high and the ongoing crisis among some Anambra communities like Achalla and Urum among many others over land disputes might act as recipe for violent clashes between Abba and Ukpo community.
Earlier in the week, the Abba community took their protest to Anambra State House of Assembly with a letter where they claimed that “Prince Arthur Eze with the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force are making attempts to dispossess us of our inheritance”, a part of the letter reads. The letter which traced the land dispute, an area of land referred to as “Agu-Abba”, to early 1960s, also remarked that it was only in 1985 that Ukpo community applied to join the case of dispute over the land which was originally between Ukwulu and Abba, after Ukpo stood as witness for Ukwulu. But in 1999, Ukwulu and Ukpo got a favourable judgment that Abba secured a stay of execution against. Surprisingly, according to the letter, “the current Chief Judge of Anambra State Justice Onochie Anyachebelu…issued a warrant of possession to Ukpo community”.
They also accused Prince Eze of wanting to give the land to the Nigeria Police Force for the new Police Zonal Command. In response, the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor thanked Abba community protesters for not taking laws into their hands. “Some people would have taken laws into their hands, but you people did not”, the Speaker said. “We are begging you to be patient. The government is looking into the case and each party to the case will have justice”, Hon. Uche assured. However, the Ukpo community side to these accusations is not known yet.
The Anambra State Boundary Commission is chaired by the Deputy Governor Dr. Nkem Okeke. With the importance most Anambra Communities attach to land, resolving land disputes between communities must be a herculean task.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
