Mbulu-Owo and Owo autonomous communities in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State have called on the Nigerian Army to respect a court judgment ordering the military to vacate a disputed land in the area.
The communities, which share common boundaries with Akpoga-Nike, Nkwubor Nike, and Onuogba Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area, as well as several communities in Ebonyi State, have expressed concern over the continued presence of military personnel on the land despite a restraining order.
Justice C.O. Ajah of the Enugu State High Court had on May 20, 2025, issued an order restraining the Nigerian Army, the Defence Ministry, and the Enugu State Government from entering the disputed area pending the determination of the substantive suit scheduled for pretrial conference on September 29.
However, according to the communities, military officials have defied the court order and have been spotted "patrolling and surveying the disputed area." Videos circulating on social media show armed soldiers patrolling the contested land, creating fear and apprehension among local residents.
In a statement issued by their Secretary, Ability Chukwuemeka Mbah, the communities urged the military to comply with the court order "in the interest of peace." The statement emphasized that the military presence was causing significant distress among community members.
The land dispute reportedly dates back to 2016 when the Nigerian Army claimed ownership of the area. A subsequent investigation by the state government, which included a joint inspection, revealed that "no beacons that correspond with the ones in the survey plans submitted by the Nigerian Army were found," making it difficult to substantiate the military's ownership claims.
The Nigerian Army maintains that the land was acquired around 1970 and has since been encroached upon by unidentified persons who have been setting up beacons on it.
The communities, which are reportedly from the same local government area as Governor Peter Mbah, have alleged that the military's continued presence on the land despite the court order is creating tension in the area.
BenriNews will continue to monitor developments in this case as the September 29 pretrial conference approaches.
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