Leaders and stakeholders of Ogwugwu Village in Enugwu-Agidi, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, have appealed to the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation (ASHDC) to restore and provide certified copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and other documents relating to the Liberation Estate located on their ancestral lands.
The delegation, comprising the village council of elders, youths, opinion leaders and other stakeholders, visited the Corporation’s headquarters in Awka to formally present their concerns over the disputed land situated at Aniocha, Ofiamgbo, Odoachalla and Mgbogidi, along the Nawfia Junction axis of the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway.
The community claimed that the land, now occupied by the Nigerian Army, has become a source of growing tension and uncertainty, prompting them to seek official clarification on the legal status and boundaries of the estate.
A letter conveying the community’s position, signed by their legal representative, Prof. M. N. Umenweke, was presented to the Acting Managing Director of the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, Barr. Nkolika Ebede.
Speaking during the visit, the National Chairman of Ogwugwu Village, Ozo Darlington Kenechukwu Okoye, said the community was seeking transparency over the Army’s presence on the land, which he said had triggered accusations, suspicion and disagreements among residents.
Okoye urged the Housing Corporation to convene a meeting involving all relevant parties to clearly define the boundaries of the estate and those under the control of the Nigerian Army.
He further alleged that military personnel had expanded beyond the agreed boundaries, resulting in the destruction of farmlands and crops belonging to members of the community.
According to him, the villagers are committed to resolving the matter peacefully but would no longer tolerate further encroachment on their ancestral farmlands.
Responding, the Acting Managing Director of the Corporation, Barr. Nkolika Ebede, commended the community for pursuing dialogue instead of confrontation.
She assured the delegation that their petition would receive due attention, explaining that the Corporation would review the documents and communicate its position through the appropriate administrative process.
Ebede also disclosed that a meeting involving all parties would be scheduled to address the issues raised, clarify the boundaries and explore an amicable resolution to the dispute.
