Land dispute: Gunmen maim workers in Enugu community

Uche Ogbodo, Enugu

Three out of ten workers are seriously injured and one is currently battling with his life after they were attacked by armed hoodlums at a disputed farmland in Umuatugbuoma Awkunanaw Nkanu West Local Government Area.

It was gathered that the dispute is over a piece of land purchased by Mr. Martins Okafor, but is not a subject of dispute. Okafor was said to have purchased the land from the original owner, Mr. Ugwu Ekene on the 4th day of February 2015.

However, after two years, one Chief Agunwa Collins invaded the land, claiming that he bought it from the same owner in 2016.

According to a court affidavit obtained by our correspondent, deposed to by Orji Kingsley, a native of Mgbidi in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State residing at Ituku in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, “Mr. Martins Okafor bought about 7 plots of land at Umuatugbuoma Awkunanaw Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State from Mr. Ugwu Ekene on the 4th day of February 2015.”

He added that Okafor has been doing his farm work on the land since that time.

However, according to him, trouble started on the 6th day of March 2017, when Okafor received an International call from one man who called himself Chief Agunwa Collins, claiming that the piece of land was sold to him by Mr. Ugwu Ekene. He said in the affidavit that Okafor asked him, when he (Chief Aguriwa Collins) bought the land so that he (Mr. Martins Okafor) can compare that with the date it was sold to him.

“Chief Agunwa Collins said he bought the land on July 21st 2016 from Mr. Ugwu Ekene which was the same person that sold the land to Mr. Martins Okafor on 4th February 2015.

“That he (Mr. Martins Okafor) later called Mr. Ugwu Ekene who told him that he (Mr. Ugwu Ekene) does not know anybody that bears that name and that Mr. Martins Okafor should continue his activities on the land.

“That one fateful day on 12th of February 2020, he (Mr. Martins Okafor) received a phone call from an unknown caller threatening him to leave the land, that the land belongs to him (unknown caller).

“That the unknown caller said in his exact words and in quote (“If you don’t leave that land, 1 will kill you, 1 will kill your wife and 1 will kill your children, starting from your wife and your children”).

“On the 19th of February 2020, unknown gun men armed with guns and other dangerous weapons invaded the land where about 10 men and women (labourers) were working, they beat them, injured some of them and pursued them far away from the land, also secured the land with broken bottles and nails scattered all over the land, so that anybody that goes close to the land will get injured.

“That the unknown gun men warned those labourers that next time, they will see them on the land, they will not only kill them, they will also kill their loved ones.

“That after the incident that happened on the 19th day of February, 2020, on the 20th day of February, 2020, Mr. and Mrs. Martins Okafor went to the Police station to lodge a formal complaint.

“That the Police tried their best to reach out to Mr. Agunwa but to no avail; hence the Police advised Mr. and Mrs. Martins to report to the station anytime he gets hold of Mr. Agunwa’s contact while they continued their investigation.”

Meanwhile, when our correspondent reached out to the Mbanabo Police Division, a top officer who spoke under anonymity acknowledged that the matter was reported.

He said the police were yet to arrest the armed men.

It was further learnt that Okafor has been living in panic for fear of being mowed down by the rampaging gunmen.