Army Presence In Enugu Sparks Fear Despite Court Ruling

Tension is rising in Owo community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, following fresh complaints against the Nigerian Army’s continued presence on a disputed piece of land, despite a standing court order.

The trouble started when a High Court in Enugu ruled on May 20 that the Nigerian Army, the Defence authorities, and the Enugu State Government should stay away from the land until an ongoing legal case is resolved. The land, located in a boundary zone, is shared by Owo and several other communities including Akpoga-Nike, Nkwubor Nike, Onuogba Nike in Enugu East, and Amechi Idodo, Oruku, Ubahu in Nkanu East. Other nearby communities in Ebonyi State like Umuhuaji, Nkalagu, and Ama-Azu are also connected to the land.

Although the court had ordered the army to withdraw from the area, residents say soldiers have remained on site and have even resumed patrols and surveys on the land. Video clips of army activity have surfaced online, stirring concern and anger within the local population.

The Owo Town Union, speaking through its secretary, Ability Chukwuemeka Mbah, has urged the army to follow the court’s directive for the sake of peace. According to the community, the land dispute has dragged on since 2016, and the army’s continued presence is worsening fear and anxiety among the people.

At one point, the state government stepped in by organizing a joint inspection of the land. That inspection revealed that the markers placed by the army did not match those shown in the documents they submitted. This cast doubt on the validity of the army’s claim.

In its defense, the Nigerian Army has told an investigative panel that it acquired the land as far back as the 1970s. It blamed recent issues on unknown individuals who it says have illegally set new markers and encroached on the property.

With the court case still pending and a pretrial hearing set for September 29, the Owo community is appealing to the military to step back and allow the legal process to continue without interference. Residents fear that ignoring the court’s ruling could spark further unrest in the area.