UMUAHIA — Indigenes of Umuawafor, Umuokereke and Umunwogu villages in Isiala Aro-Ngwa Autonomous Community, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State, have appealed to the state government to stop further acquisition of their ancestral land for development projects.

The communities made the appeal during a protest over reports that the government had acquired land in the three villages for a proposed smart city project.

The protesters said they had already surrendered substantial portions of their ancestral land for government projects, including the trailer park and the permanent site of the Abia State Polytechnic.

They urged the government to consider other communities with sufficient land for the proposed smart city project.

The villagers also raised concerns over the alleged acquisition of land that had already been purchased by individuals for development, saying the situation had created uncertainty for landowners and investors.

Speaking on behalf of the affected villages, Comrade Friday Appolos said the communities had suffered significant land losses over the years due to government acquisitions and transactions involving individuals who claimed to be acting on behalf of the state government.

He appealed to the government to allow existing developers, including indigenes who had legally acquired portions of the land, to proceed with their projects.

Appolos said the communities had previously lost large portions of their land to government projects.

“We recall that the Abia State Government in the past acquired land for the permanent site of the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Osisioma Ngwa, and the larger part of it belongs to Umuawafor village, which has about 95 per cent of the land there,” he said.

He added that massive portions of land had also been acquired for projects such as the trailer park and other developments in Isiala Aro-Ngwa.

“The recent purported acquisition is frustrating. This is injustice, inhuman and unacceptable,” Appolos said.

He alleged that individuals who were taking government officials to the communities to facilitate land acquisition were not representing the interests of the affected residents.

“These affected villages have never for one day seen any government representatives. We call on the Abia State Government to leave the Aro-Ngwa people alone. Development must not start and end in Aro-Ngwa. There are other villages with enough land to give out. Ours is finished,” he said.

Appolos also expressed concern about the future of residents if the remaining portions of their ancestral land were acquired.

He called on the government to respect the rights of the communities and engage them directly on any development plans involving their ancestral land.

Meanwhile, counsel to some investors in the area, Mr. Obiora Edward, said his clients had gone to court after learning of the alleged government acquisition of their property.

Edward identified his clients as Cyril Nwachukwu, Nkechi Nwachukwu and Emeka Nwachukwu, saying they were indigenes of the area who had acquired the land for development.

According to him, the matter is pending before the court in Suit No. HOS/168/2025.

Edward said his clients initially heard reports that the state government had acquired their land and made efforts to contact the government without success.

“Some time last year, we got a rumour that the Abia State Government had acquired the land belonging to my clients. All efforts made to reach out to the government proved abortive,” he said.

He said the investors subsequently filed the suit against the government, adding that the state responded through a lawyer after being served with the court papers.

“The matter is still pending in court,” Edward said.

He further expressed concern over reports that individuals allegedly linked to investors were preparing to begin development activities on the disputed property despite the ongoing court case.

According to him, his clients possess documents supporting their ownership of the property and acquired it specifically for development.

Edward argued that if the government intended to acquire the land, the affected owners should be formally notified and adequately compensated in line with applicable laws.

“If the government wants the land, it should contact my clients, or it should leave the land alone because my clients are ready to develop this land whichever way the government wants it or pay adequate compensation,” he said.

Edward disclosed that the disputed property covers more than 140 plots.

The affected communities called on the state government to engage the landowners and residents in dialogue to resolve the dispute peacefully and prevent further disagreements over the proposed development project.