In a devastating turn of events, residents and locals of Uzamu Isinomeh, Emene Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, including widows, were left in despair as their ancestral homes were demolished by officials of an Enugu State government agency.
The victims, among them Ezinne Blessing Nkemjurum Oguike, a widow, shared their anguish with reporters, revealing that individuals suspected to be affiliated with the Ministry of Lands and Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority had orchestrated the demolition of their homes.
According to Mrs. Oguike, who is originally from Imo State and conveyed her message through her son, Chukwuebuka Oguike, they had obtained the land over six decades ago from the original landowners before the establishment of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
The elderly woman claimed that they were not provided with any prior notice or notification of the government’s acquisition of the land before the demolition occurred on Monday, April 29, 2024.
She estimated their loss from the demolition to be over 500 million naira.
Mrs. Oguike also mentioned that a former state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had encouraged them to carry out necessary documentation for the land after hearing their side of the story regarding the land’s rightful owners.
After submitting the required paperwork for the C of O grant, she asserted that the governor had approved her request, as evidenced by a letter dated 20/02/2024.
Despite paying the assessed C of O fees totaling N5,832,120.12 and providing proof of payment, she was informed that the issuance of the C of O was halted due to a directive from higher authorities.
Another widow from Uzamu Isinomeh, Mrs. Eunice Agbo, whose ancestral home met the same fate, revealed that following her husband’s passing in 1979, she had obtained a map from the archives highlighting her late husband, Innocent Agbo, as the landowner of Ishi Nome land.
Despite her efforts to secure the Certificate of Occupancy from the land ministry, she was advised that it was unnecessary given the land’s status as their ancestral property.
Expressing her distress, Mrs. Agbo stated, “They have been troubling me since my husband’s demise in 1979. I have visited the land and archives ministry to inquire and it was confirmed that the land belongs to my spouse.”
The widows made a heartfelt appeal to the State Government to intervene in order to safeguard them from potential eviction or being reduced to mere tenants on lands they have cherished and owned for generations.
As of the time of compiling this report, the Enugu State government had not issued any response to these concerning allegations.