Land Dispute Umuowa: Anugwom Stephen Raises Alarm-Writes Police Over Alleged Clandestine Plot to Eliminate Family

Anugwom Stephen has written a petition to the Imo State Police Command, Owerri, alleging a clandestine move by some individuals to eliminate members of the Anugwom family in Ujah, Umuowa, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. The alleged plot, according to him, is connected to a lingering land dispute.

The security alarm was contained in a petition written to the police and made available to this newspaper on Monday in Owerri by the petitioner.

The petition, written through his solicitors, reads in part:“As solicitors to Mr. Anugwom Stephen of Ujah, Umuowa, Orlu LGA, Imo State, who shall hereinafter be referred to as our Client, we write upon his express instruction as follows:“Our Client informed us, and we believe him, that the Anugwom family of Orlu owns a large expanse of land known as ALA AMA ADIOHA, ALA NWANYI OJII, ALA OHIA LOLO UGBOR, ALA OCHA UGWUGWUME, and ALA AMANWADIKA — all located in Orlu. These lands were preserved for family sharing in accordance with their customary practices.

“Our Client further informed us that the family intended to share the land among the heads of each household. However, on the day agreed for the sharing, they discovered that some hoodlums within the family, in connivance with land grabbers, had criminally alienated large portions of the land to third parties without due process. These individuals have vowed never to return the land to the family.

“Several meetings convened to resolve the matter could not be held due to threats to the lives of family leaders.
“Our Client, who was appointed to chair the committee for the recovery of the affected portions of land, has since received repeated threats to his life and can no longer sleep peacefully.

“We state categorically that our Client’s life is now in danger, as these individuals have vowed to eliminate him should he continue with efforts to recover the family’s properties.

“The persons mentioned include: Donatus Anugwom, Felix Anugwom, Tochukwu Okoro, Ogadi Ezeala, Silas Dike, Chinedu Dike, and Dandyson Duru, among others.
“Life is precious and must be treated as such. It is on this note that we bring this matter to your attention and respectfully urge you to use your good office to ensure justice and safeguard lives.”