Enugu Community Under Siege: IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor Urges Mbah to Act Now
Chief Eziuche Linus, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Governor Peter Mba
By Titus Eleweke
Residents of Ukpata community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State are reportedly living in fear over allegations of armed occupation of their ancestral farmlands, threats to residents and sexual violence against women by Fulani herders, prompting a passionate appeal to Governor Peter Mbah to intervene urgently before the situation deteriorates into a wider security and humanitarian crisis.
The disturbing allegations were raised in an audio message by Chief Eziuche Linus, the Onowu of Ukpata, who reportedly described the community’s ordeal and expressed concern over the alleged gradual loss of ancestral lands to armed criminal elements said to be operating from surrounding forests.
Chief Linus, a prominent community leader, has emerged as a voice for residents who fear losing the ancestral lands that have sustained their families, livelihoods and community for generations.
For Ukpata, an agrarian community whose residents depend largely on farming for survival, the alleged occupation of farmlands threatens more than their economic well-being.
It also raises serious concerns about their personal safety, ancestral heritage, food security and ability to remain in their homeland.
Reacting to the allegations, Anambra State-born human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, described the reported situation as deeply disturbing and called on the Enugu State Government and relevant security agencies to take urgent action.
Ejiofor made the appeal in a statement titled “Wednesday Musings: A Desecrated Homeland, a Terrified People: Governor Peter Mbah, the Time to Reclaim Ukpata Is Now; Reclaim Ukpata and Uzo-Uwani Before a De Facto Territorial Conquest Becomes Irreversible.”
He said that, if established, the allegations of violence, intimidation and unlawful occupation of farmland would constitute a grave threat to the safety, dignity and fundamental rights of the affected residents.
The lawyer, however, stressed the importance of distinguishing alleged criminal actors from the wider Fulani ethnic group, noting that references in his commentary to armed Fulani bandits or jihadist elements related to specific individuals or groups accused of criminal activities and should not be interpreted as an indictment of an entire ethnic community.
According to him, criminality must be confronted without ethnic prejudice, and no ethnic group should be collectively blamed for the alleged actions of individuals.
Ejiofor identified the allegation of sexual violence against women working on their ancestral farmlands as one of the most disturbing aspects of the reported situation, alongside threats allegedly faced by residents who challenge the intruders.
He said that, if confirmed, such incidents would amount to serious violations of human dignity, personal security and the fundamental rights of the victims.
“No woman should have to fear sexual violence while working on her family’s farmland, and no community should be forced to abandon its ancestral inheritance because of threats from armed groups,” he said.
The lawyer explained that the alleged loss of access to farmlands was not merely a territorial dispute but a direct threat to the economic survival, food security and social stability of the community.
He noted that when farmers could no longer access their fields safely, the consequences extended beyond the immediate victims to entire households that depended on agricultural produce for food, income and survival.
“This is why Governor Peter Mbah must urgently address the concerns raised by the community,” he said.
Addressing the governor directly, Ejiofor said the people of Ukpata needed protection, reassurance and decisive government action, stressing that their location within Enugu State made their security and lawful access to ancestral lands matters requiring the full attention of the state government.
He warned that the allegations must not be allowed to remain unresolved without a credible investigation and an effective security response.
“Where are the security agencies? What measures are in place to secure the forests and surrounding farmlands? How are vulnerable residents being protected, and what arrangements exist to ensure that those who may have fled their homes or farms can safely return?
“These are urgent questions that require concrete answers,” he said.
Ejiofor also called for the intervention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igbo youth organisations, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders, urging them to draw attention to the plight of the affected residents and support lawful and peaceful efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
He maintained that their involvement should complement, rather than replace, the responsibilities of government and security agencies in restoring safety and preventing further violence.
According to him, the people of Ukpata should not have to wait for further loss of life, widespread displacement or the destruction of their livelihoods before their concerns receive the attention they deserve.
“I therefore urge Governor Mbah to take immediate and coordinated action to investigate the allegations, strengthen security in the affected areas, identify and apprehend those responsible for any criminal acts, and protect residents from further attacks,” he said.
He further urged the state government to establish the extent of the alleged occupation of farmlands, determine whether any residents had been displaced and take appropriate lawful measures to restore access to ancestral lands wherever unlawful occupation was established.
The human rights lawyer stressed the need for security agencies to work with credible community representatives to obtain reliable information, protect potential witnesses and ensure that victims of alleged violence could report incidents without fear of retaliation.
He added that allegations of rape and other sexual offences should be investigated professionally, with due regard for victims’ privacy, dignity and access to appropriate support.
“The forests must not become safe havens for armed criminal elements to threaten law-abiding citizens or undermine the authority of the state. At the same time, all interventions must be guided by verified intelligence, the rule of law and the protection of innocent residents, regardless of their ethnic background,” he added.
Ejiofor also urged Governor Mbah to seek any additional security assistance necessary to address the situation effectively, warning that early intervention was essential to prevent the alleged encroachment from worsening and avert a broader security and humanitarian crisis.
He cautioned that if the reported occupation of ancestral farmlands continued unchecked, more families could lose access to their means of livelihood, more residents could be displaced, and confidence in their ability to live safely in their homeland could be further eroded.
According to him, what might begin as the alleged occupation of individual farmlands could develop into a much broader territorial and humanitarian problem if left unresolved.
He therefore urged the state government not to wait until the consequences became more difficult to reverse before taking decisive action.
Ejiofor said Governor Mbah had an opportunity to demonstrate through a prompt and effective response that the safety of rural communities remained a priority and that allegations threatening lives, livelihoods and ancestral lands would receive the seriousness they deserved.
He insisted that the people of Ukpata deserved neither abandonment nor empty assurances but concrete measures to protect their lives, secure their families and enable them to cultivate their farmlands without fear.
“Their ancestral heritage is not merely a local concern. It is bound up with their identity, their economic survival and the rights of future generations to inherit the land on which their community was built.
“The time for urgent intervention is now. The allegations must be investigated, the affected residents protected, and any unlawful occupation addressed through effective and lawful action.
“History should record that when the people of Ukpata raised the alarm over their safety and ancestral lands, the authorities responded with urgency and determination—not that their cries were ignored until the damage became irreversible.
“Osita dị mma, ọ dịbara gboo,” he said.
