Land Dispute: Youths Destroy Church Building in Anambra, Beat Up Worshippers
By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Buildings and property worth millions of naira have been destroyed, as the ongoing land dispute between Olu Ndi Enigwe Adoration Ministry, Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State and members of the community intensifies.
The land dispute, which has birthed multiple crisis and clashes between the church and the community members, has tarried for a long while and remained unresolved, despite various peace accords and the interventions of some stakeholders, including Archbishop Valerian Okeke of the Metropolitan Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha.
It was learnt that despite all these interventions, angry youths of the community invaded the church with bulldozer and demolished the building, and destroyed other valuables and properties therein.
However, while the peaceful resolution, some youths in the community were said to have invaded the church with a bulldozer and demolished the building and destroyed other valuables.
Speaking with newsmen, the Spiritual Director of the demolished church, Rev. Fr. Jude Uche Olundienigwe, said the land where the building was sited, which was originally 23 plots, were fully negotiated and purchased from its original owners, Umuopi family.
He also claimed that the Federal Government had utilized about 10 plots of the land for the construction of the Second Niger bridge road, leaving behind about 13 plots for the Ministry.
As though that was not enough, according to him, the youths of the community constantly began to invade and claiming that the remaining portion of the land now belong to the community.
He accused the traditional ruler of the community of masterminding the constant invasions of the church by some youths who, according to him, claims that the church’s land now belongs to the community —an act, he alleged, was masterminded by the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Chidubem Iweka.
While alleging that the invasions had led to the assault, battering and molestation of worshippers and workers in the church, the cleric also noted that the church had lost over N20m to the destructive activities of the community youths.
He also claimed he put call across to Igwe Iweka when the destruction was was going on, to ascertain if he was aware of their acts, as they claimed, but he never responded to the call.
He said: “The youths came with the bulldozer and as they were demolishing our church and sacred images, I put a call across to the monarch, Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi, several times to ascertain whether he was the person who issued the order, as the youth claimed, but he refused to take the call.
“We put a call to the President General of Obosi Community, Sir Ikechukwu Okolo, who said he could not intervene or stop the Obosi youths until he hears from Igwe Obosi. The boys had a field day threatening to shoot me if I showed up. They razed down the whole worship centre.
“The documents of the 23 plots of land purchased from Umuopi family, Obosi are with us. In 2019, the Federal Government decided to construct a road leading to the Second Niger bridge through the land, which we obliged. The Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke advised us to temporarily vacate the place to enable the construction company to do their job after which they utilized about 10 plots out of the property.
“Since we returned to reconstruct and continue our normal worship in our property, it has been trouble. The youths of Umuopi family came destroying church structures, saying that the government compensated us, so we do not have any land left. We said no, the government only compensated us for the much it used, we still have about 13 plots left. Many times they came and beat up worshippers and artisans reconstructing the place, confiscated their work tools.
“We have been trying to make peace. After about three invasions and extortion last year, we approached the President General of the community, who tried to mediate between the church and Umuopi family. The PG asked them to go and verify whether we encroached into another person’s land, they said no. This fourth negotiation, which ended with another compensation of one million naira was documented as a MOU and signed by witnesses, including the PG stating that we should not be harassed again but we were surprised at this latest development and demolition.
“Although the church property and structures demolished were worth over N20m, the damage incurred by the demolition of the sacred images and altar of worship on the souls of worshippers was unquantifiable. The damage is not just monetary; it killed many souls of worshippers, destroying their faith. No amount one will pay materially would be enough to pay for the damages. I call on them to repent.”
However, when contacted, Igwe Iweka denied sending any group of armed youths to demolish the worship centre.
On his own part, the President General of the community, Sir Ikechukwu Okolo, in his reaction, claimed that Rev. Fr. Olundienigwe was the architect of his own misfortune, saying that all his efforts as the community leader to mediate between the adoration ministry and Obosi indigenes were frustrated by the cleric.
In his words, “I did not receive any invitation from the Archbishop for any peace talk, rather Fr. Olundienigwe at a point, said he had lost confidence in the palace and refused the invitation from Eze Obosi for further dialogue.
“The Igwe could not have sent people to demolish a worship centre as claimed by the church. I found out that Fr. Olundienigwe acquired property and built structures blocking other property owners around that area from having access roads to their lands.”
“So the original landowners – the youths simply went to recover access roads encroached by the ministry,” he said.
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Izunna Okafor
Izunna Okafor is an award-winning Nigerian novelist, poet, journalist, essayist, editor, translator, publicist, Igbo language activist and administrator who hails from Ebenator in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.
He writes perfectly in English and Igbo languages, and has published several books in both languages.
He has received over 25 awards, and has over 2000 articles published online, both nationally and internationally, cutting across creative writing and journalism.
See his full profile at:
https://9jabooks.com/profile/484
