Anambra land dispute: Police arrest 3 for defying boundary committee order

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

At least three people were said to have been arrested for allegedly defying the order of the Anambra State Boundary Committee that warned that all parties involved in the disputed land at Igbu Awkuzu village, Oyi local Government area, should steer clear of the disputed Nkpan land pending the settlement of the crisis by the Boundary Committee.

In a letter to that effect, dated 12th August 2025, signed by the Boundary Committee Executive Secretary, Olisa Eloka Mba and copied the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, and state Director of Department of Security Service, DSS, it was sent to chairmen of villages concerned, warning them to abide by the order or be sanctioned.

The Commission listed the villages laying claim to ownership of the Nkpan land to include, Igbu Awkuzu-Oyi council area, Igbuala Ifitedunu-Dunukofia council area, Umuojobi Umunya-Oyi council area, and Ajakpani Umunya-Oyi council area, (SBC Red Zone).

The letter read in part thus: “In line with ideals of peaceful coexistence, promotion of sustainable economic developmentment and community security, the State Boundary Committee will not tolerate any violation of this directive as it will jeopardize its unrelenting efforts in ensuring sustainable peace along the Boundary corridors of communities in Anambra State”.

Reacting to the Police arrest of the trio, the chairman of Okwesi family of Igbu Awkuzu, Charles Okwesi, said that prior to the arrest of the said three people, he was first arrested when two people from Igbuala village, Ifitedunu, Gozie Obinabo and Oliver Okeke,  lodged a complaint to police that he demolished the perimeter fence they erected in the disputed land.

“At the state CID where I was taken to, I told the police that I was not responsible for the demolition and more over that they defied the order of the Boundary Committee by putting structure in the disputed land and the Deputy Commissioner of Police on seeing the letter, sent his men to the land and they arrested  the three people erecting the structure while others fled the scene.

“Knowing that I said the truth, I was released, but not without telling the police that Bishop Onyeka Nzekwesi, CEO of Pineleaf Estate, was their sponsor and I also told the Boundary committee what happened because the first time they inspected the land there was no structure there but few days after they warned and left, Gozie Obinabo and Oliver Okeke, sponsored by Bishop Nzekwesi, commenced the erection of the fence.

“Prior to my latest arrest, Bishop Nzekwesi had repeatedly in the past used the police, soldiers and other security operatives to arrest,  label us kidnappers, terrorists and tried to intimidate us for refusing him to take over our ancestoral land. So before this my latest arrest, we held meetings on two occasions with Nzekwesi where he confessed that the disputed land belongs to Okwesi family and pleaded to offer us #150million but we refused, having discussed with some other people interested in the land and he vowed to take it by force.

“I have pleaded to the Boundary Commission to come to our rescue by settling the matter immediately and that Bishop Nzekwesi should be held responsible if anything untoward happens to my life,” Charles maintained.

Recall that Bishop Nzekwesi had earlier when the land dispute started, denied all the allegations leveled against him stating that the Okwesi family was part of the land deal but it turned around to use another family to make demands on him when he had already given them monetary settlement.

Bishop Nzekwesi further explained that he bought the land in question from three communities of Awkuzu, Ifitedunu and Umunya and made sure he settled all concerned to avoid issues. 

“Surprisingly, the Okwesi family that was part of the deal went behind to introduce another buyer into the property.

“They invaded the place with dangerous weapons, destroyed and looted things worth over N7 million but still I decided to let them go scot-free after police arrested and detained them. Unfortunately, they mobilized about 20 of their people to invade the land again with guns” he said.

He clarified that the alleged drafting of soldiers into the land was for security reason even if it was the sole arrangement of the concerned villagers who decided to protect their own against invaders and to prevent serious security breach.  

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Tochukwu Ikenga (SP), confirmed then the invention and that those arrested were released.