The air in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, crackled with tension on a Wednesday as residents of the Umuoyima Autonomous Community took to the streets in peaceful protest. Their grievance centered on the state government’s forceful takeover of the old Timber and Allied Market, locally known as Ogbosisi, located along Wetheral Road. The community members, a diverse group encompassing elders, youths, and women, brandished placards expressing their discontent. Their messages were clear and poignant: “Government, leave our ancestral land,” and “This is where our ancestors were buried,” reflecting the deep-seated historical and emotional connection to the land.
The crux of the dispute lay in the land’s ownership and history. Elder Godwin Ofurum, Chairman of the Elders’ Council, addressed journalists, explaining that the land was originally owned by the Umuoyima community and had been generously donated to the government for the specific purpose of establishing the Timber Market. However, with the market’s subsequent relocation to Naze, the community had formally requested the return of their ancestral land, a request that was officially granted by the government in 2007. This official approval was documented in a letter (LOW/7920A/14, dated May 21, 2007) signed by the then Director of Lands, Mrs. F.U. Maduike, sanctioning the release of the land to the Umuoyima community for development as a private layout known as “Umuoyima South Pocket Layout.”
Adding weight to the community’s claim, Chief Obinga Mbanu, the Traditional Prime Minister, emphatically stated their unwavering resolve not to relinquish their ancestral land. The community’s stance was further strengthened by Elder Ofurum’s assertion that successive administrations had respected the 2007 decision, raising questions about the current government’s motives for reversing the land grant. He highlighted the perplexing situation in which Governor Hope Uzodimma, prior to his governorship, had even approached the community to purchase the land but was declined. This raised suspicions about whether the current takeover was truly sanctioned by the governor or orchestrated by officials acting independently.
Despite the community’s peaceful protest and historical claims, the situation escalated dramatically. Officials from the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) arrived at the contested site accompanied by security operatives. Reports detailed a chaotic scene as security forces fired shots into the air to disperse the protesting residents, while bulldozers simultaneously began demolishing shops and stalls within the market. Traders scrambled frantically to salvage their goods amidst the commotion, and several individuals reportedly sustained injuries in the ensuing chaos. This heavy-handed approach underscored the government’s determination to proceed with the takeover, disregarding the community’s pleas and protests.
Prior to the demolition, the Imo State Government had publicly announced its intention to clear the old market site. The General Manager of OCDA, Frank Nkem, justified the action by citing the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued to traders to vacate the area. He further claimed that the site had become a haven for criminal activities, including gun-running and drug peddling, thus necessitating its demolition. This justification, however, seemed to contradict the community’s claims of legitimate ownership and peaceful intentions for the land. Mr. Nkem’s statement also highlighted the government’s assertion that the traders had been officially relocated to Naze Industrial Market years ago, implying that their continued presence at the old market was unauthorized and contributed to the site’s alleged criminal activities.
The demolition exercise continued unabated, with a heavy security presence maintained in the area to quell any further resistance from the community. The events in Owerri painted a stark picture of a clash between the government’s development agenda and a community’s fight to retain its ancestral land. The Umuoyima community’s peaceful protest and historical documentation contrasted sharply with the government’s forceful approach, raising questions about due process, transparency, and the respect for ancestral land rights. The incident underscored the complex dynamics of land ownership disputes and the potential for conflict when historical claims and development interests collide. The forced demolition left the Umuoyima community reeling from the loss of their ancestral land, and the incident has undoubtedly sown seeds of distrust between the community and the state government.
