Umunya Estate Members Protest Alleged Harassment, Extortion by Youths

By Juliana Nwachukwu

Residents of several estates, including Festac Villa, in Umunya Community, Oyi Local Government Area, on Monday staged a protest over alleged extortion, harassment, and intimidation by youths in the area.
According to the protesters, the youths were acting under the directive of the Chairman of Ajakpani Village, Chief Sunday Udebunu, popularly known as “Owo.”
The protesters, led by the Chairman of Festac Villa, Chief Stephen Oforleh, also known as “Award,” carried placards bearing inscriptions such as: “Owo, stop terrorizing our estate,” “Owo, we did not buy land in Ajakpani Village,” and “Owo, stop using thugs against us,” among others.
Speaking after the protest, Oforleh said the estate members had lived in the area since 2010, after purchasing the land from Chief Ifeanyi Nwoyeugo and his brothers, including Obichukwu, who, according to him, originally acquired the property from Ezi Umunya Village.
“Some of us have lived there for decades. Before settling there, we paid all the required dues to the Umunya community and Ezi Village, Umunya, the original owners of the land,”.
“The property is privately owned. It was not purchased from Ajakpani Village,” he added.
He alleged that the crisis began under the current leadership of Chief Udebunu, claiming that youths armed with knives, axes, and cutlasses now invade the estates daily on about 60 to 70 motorcycles to demand between N100,000 and N200,000 from individuals, as well as N500,000 per building project.
According to him, those who refuse to pay are threatened, while construction workers at building sites are frequently assaulted and chased away.
Oforleh further stated that the estate, through its legal counsel, Madukego F. Uzoigwe & Associates, had formally responded to the demands, maintaining that the land falls within Okpuru, Ezi Umunya, and that the Ajakpani Development Union has no legal authority or locus standi to collect development levies from residents in the area.
He also alleged that the harassment escalated after northern workers employed by his in-law, who resides in northern Nigeria, were allegedly beaten by the youths, an incident he said later triggered reprisals against his in-law’s shop in the North.
According to Oforleh, the matter has been reported to the President-General of Umunya as well as the S.O. Nteje Police Station.
He added that he had warned that Chief Udebunu would be held responsible should any harm befall any resident of the estates.
Other estate members supported his claims.
Michael Aniekwe alleged that workers he brought from Abuja were beaten and chased away from his site along with their plumbing tools.
He claimed he was forced to pay N100,000 on two separate occasions to the youths, although part of the money was later refunded.
Another resident, Mr. Arinze Ezemba, also corroborated the allegations and appealed to Governor Charles Soludo to intervene and ensure the safety of residents.
The original seller of the property, Chief Ifeanyi Nwoyeugo, urged the leadership of Ajakpani to properly investigate the history of the land before making demands on residents.
“There was a time we experienced a similar issue, but it was resolved amicably without confrontation,”
“Nobody should disturb these people. If anyone wants to collect dues, they must first understand the history of the land.” he said.
Also speaking, a community elder, Chief Udeani Nweke, popularly known as “Ugboaku,” warned the Ajakpani chairman to call the youths to order.
“The land does not belong to them, unless they are looking for trouble,”.
“If they have taken anybody’s money or property, they should return or refund it immediately.”he said .
When contacted, Chief Sunday Udebunu, Chairman of the Ajakpani Development Union, he denied personally collecting money from estate members.
He stated that if any payments were made to youths from Ajakpani, the funds did not get to him, adding that “every community has youths who can group themselves and engage in such acts.”
Udebunu maintained that the union was only attempting to recover lands allegedly belonging to Ajakpani.
He said the estates had been invited for dialogue about six or seven months earlier but failed to respond.
According to him, the union intends to investigate the matter thoroughly and reconcile with those who sold the land to the developers.
The protesting estate members have now called on Governor Charles Soludo to intervene and restore peace and order in the area.