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 halt further acquisition of their ancestral land for development projects.

The communities made the appeal during a protest over reports that the state government had acquired portions of their land for a proposed smart city project.

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

They therefore called on the government to consider other communities with available land for the proposed smart city project.

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

The spokesman for the affected villages, Comrade Friday Appolos, said the communities had lost significant portions of their land over the years through government acquisitions and transactions involving individuals who allegedly claimed to be acting on behalf of the state government.

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

He said, “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.

“They also acquired massive portions of land for projects like the trailer park and other projects in Isiala Aro-Ngwa.

“The recent purported acquisition is frustrating. This is injustice, inhuman and unacceptable. We call on the Abia State Government to take note that those bringing them here to take our land are not our people.

“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.”

Appolos said the communities were worried about where their people would live if the remaining portions of their land were acquired.

He called on the government to respect the rights of the affected residents and engage them before embarking on development projects involving their ancestral land.

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

Edward said the investors — Cyril Nwachukwu, Nkechi Nwachukwu and Emeka Nwachukwu — are indigenes of the area who acquired the land for development.

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

Edward said, “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.

“They went ahead to sue the government with Suit No. HOS/168/2025. Upon service of the suit on the government, it responded through a lawyer. The matter is still pending in court.”

He expressed concern that despite the pending case, individuals reportedly linked to investors were planning to commence development activities on the disputed property.

Edward maintained that his clients had documents supporting their ownership of the land and had acquired it specifically for development.

He argued that if the government intended to acquire the property, the affected owners should be formally notified and adequately compensated in accordance with the law.

“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 urged the Abia State Government to engage with the landowners and residents to find a peaceful resolution and prevent further disputes over the proposed smart city project.