Aged women from Ishinkwo Autonomous Community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State staged a peaceful protest on Monday, accusing government officials of fraudulent activities in the ongoing land demarcation exercise between their community and the neighboring Abaomege community.
The Ebonyi State government had initiated the demarcation process as part of efforts to resolve the longstanding land dispute between the two communities, a conflict that has resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of properties worth millions of naira. The exercise follows the terms outlined in a government white paper aimed at ensuring a lasting settlement.
The protesting women, who stormed the Ebonyi Government House in Abakaliki, carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Gov Nwifuru, father of the State, please come to our aid,” “Enough is enough to land grabbing, follow the white paper,” and “Return Ugwuekuma Primary School to Ishinkwo, it’s our ancient landmark.”
They also marched to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, where they registered their grievances with lawmakers. The women accused the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, Mr. Ikechukwu Ogbofia, of allegedly colluding with the land demarcation committee to favor his Abaomege community.
In an open letter addressed to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and signed by the National President of the Women Wing of the Ishinkwo Community Development Union (ICDU), Mrs. Fidelia Nworie, along with 12 others, the protesters claimed the demarcation process was flawed and could undermine the government’s peace efforts.
They alleged that the Deputy Surveyor-General of the state, Mr. Ekeroku, was conducting the demarcation without reference to the white paper, which they described as the legal framework for the exercise.
“The demarcation is being executed without reference to the white paper, which renders the process illegal, null, and void. No one can place something on nothing and expect it to stand,” the letter stated.
The women further claimed that a key survey map, which is crucial for guiding the demarcation, had been withheld from Ishinkwo community leaders while allegedly being made available to the Onicha LGA chairman, an Abaomege native.
They called on Governor Nwifuru to urgently intervene and ensure that the demarcation exercise adheres to the government’s approved white paper to prevent further tension between the two communities.
