The President-General of Ezioha-Mmaku, in Awgu Local government Area of Enugu State, Anselm Okolo says there is no land dispute between his community and Obeagu people.
Speaking exclusively with Signature TV, Okolo said there was rather a case of encroachment on the ancestral land of the people of Ezioha-Mmaku by Obeagu describing any statement to the contrary as false and misleading.
The PG said the land case between the two communities was taken to the Eastern Nigeria High Court in 1957 which decided the matter in favour of Ezioha-Mmaku which was further affirmed by the Appeal Court in 1962.
He observed with dismay, certain allegations in the public space accusing the police in Awgu of intimidation, unlawful arrest and of taking side with the Ezioha Mmaku people in a purported land dispute with the Obeagu community and alleged that Obeagu community has been importing thugs to unleash terror against his people.
His reaction came days after the people of Obeagu community accused the Divisional Police Officer in Awgu of using his men to intimidate and illegally detain the youths and people of the community.
The people of Obeagu took to the streets on Monday the 6th of May to protest what they called persistent harassment, persecution and unlawful arrest of their people by policemen from Awgu Division.
The President General of the community, Callistus Ojogbu, alleged that the police who are supposed to protect the lives and properties of the citizens had taken sides in the land dispute and gone ahead to unleash terror on law-abiding Obeagu people.