By Abigail Philip David
Ozo Ozoemena Okeke, Vice Chairman of Obunagu Achalla village in Enugu Agidi, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, has alleged that he was kidnapped twice for resisting the sale of communal land. Speaking to journalists at his residence on Sunday, Okeke claimed some of his kinsmen conspired with kidnappers to eliminate him because of his opposition to their alleged illicit sale of community lands.
Okeke recounted that his ordeal began in October 2023 when he was first abducted after accusations that he sold a piece of land. “They accused me of selling land, which I did not. The kidnappers took me, searched my finances, and even confiscated my foodstuff, but eventually released me after finding only ₦22 in my bank account,” he said.
The second incident occurred in August 2024, shortly after a peace meeting in the community. “They invaded my house, took me into the bush, and detained me for three days before releasing me,” Okeke added, blaming four kinsmen for orchestrating the attacks to silence his opposition to their alleged exploitation of community resources.
Community Chairman Denies Allegations
Responding to the claims, Emeka Ementa, Chairman of Obunagu Achalla, dismissed Okeke’s accusations as baseless. Ementa explained that Okeke and others were suspended by the community for actions perceived as detrimental to communal unity.
“The decision to ostracize him was made collectively during a general meeting. I have no knowledge of or involvement with any kidnapping. These are fabricated claims meant to distract from his questionable behavior,” Ementa said.
He further clarified the community’s stance on the disputed land, asserting that the land in question, called Agu-Nawgu, was a shared ancestral property. He emphasized that Enugu Agidi had already won legal disputes over the land against Awka community at various court levels.
Ementa urged the state government to intervene, stating, “We have suffered enough over this issue. The courts have ruled in our favor, and we expect the government to enforce the decisions.”
The land dispute remains a contentious issue, with both sides accusing each other of undermining communal harmony.
