Some concerned indigenes of Urum Community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have raised alarm over what they described as intimidation, unlawful detention and cyberbullying linked to an ongoing land dispute in the area.
The group, led by the Chief Executive Officer of Nwaguatahiha Property and Home Limited, Mr. Okechukwu Chukwukeme, accused the President-General of Urum Community, Mr. Felix Godwin, of allegedly terrorising residents over a disputed parcel of land.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, Chukwukeme alleged that the community leader mobilised more than 200 people and members of the Anambra Vigilante Group who allegedly detained some families for three days and subjected them to inhuman treatment following a disagreement over the ownership of the land.
According to him, the dispute began when his company attempted to register the land and obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the Anambra State Ministry of Lands.
He explained that officials from the ministry had scheduled a visit to the site on January 8 to take coordinates and determine whether the land was under government acquisition or free for private ownership.
Chukwukeme alleged that after the inspection team left the area, the situation escalated as some families who claimed ownership of the land were allegedly arrested by members of the vigilante group and detained.
He further claimed that the victims were allegedly taken to a shrine and warned not to discuss the land issue again.
The property developer also accused the community leader of orchestrating a campaign of cyberbullying against him and his company, saying the attacks on social media had damaged the reputation he built over 26 years in business.
“I need justice. My name has been dragged on social media and I have been labelled a criminal. Some families have fled the community out of fear,” he said.
Chukwukeme called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, to constitute a high-powered investigative committee to probe the allegations.
He suggested that the committee should include the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police overseeing the zone.
Also speaking, security expert and Director of Security Solute Nigeria Institute, Comrade Salihu Dantata Mahmud, urged the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the allegations thoroughly.
Mahmud noted that while the police often say land disputes are civil matters, such conflicts have increasingly become sources of intimidation and violence in many communities.
He alleged that some police operatives sometimes become involved in such cases through internal conspiracies and abuse of specialised units.
Mahmud called on the IGP to return the case file to the Anambra State Police Command for proper investigation, adding that specialised units such as the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre should also examine allegations of cyberbullying.
He further urged authorities to investigate claims of illegal possession of firearms allegedly used during the incident.
“This matter should be investigated thoroughly. If anybody is found possessing prohibited weapons such as AK-47 rifles, that is a serious offence and must be addressed,” he said.
Adding his voice, a Crown Prince of Urum Community, Prince Raymond Okafor, questioned the alleged involvement of members of the Anambra Vigilante Group in the dispute.
He explained that vigilante members are usually screened and trained under the supervision of traditional authorities before they are allowed to operate.
According to him, the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrests raised concerns about whether due procedures were followed.
Similarly, Chief John Arinze, a traditional prime minister in the community, and Mr. Chibueze Onuorah of the Igwekanma family said some residents now live in fear due to the crisis.
Arinze claimed that he no longer sleeps in the community because of safety concerns, calling on authorities to intervene urgently.
The Manager of Nwaguatahiha Property and Home Limited, Miss Ugochukwu Rejoice, also lamented that the ongoing dispute and online allegations have begun to affect the company’s credibility with clients.
She said several clients had started questioning the integrity of the company following the social media attacks against its Chief Executive Officer.
The group therefore appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and other relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and restore peace in the community.
Urum is an agrarian community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, known for cultivating rice, yams, and cassava. Founded by a hunter named Upata, the town consists of four villages: Akaeze, Ifiteora, Umuife, and Akitinyi.
