– Appeals to Governor Uzodimma for Intervention
The people of Naze Autonomous Community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, on Monday, June 30, 2025, embarked on a peaceful protest, passionately appealing to the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to urgently intervene and caution some top government officials whom they accused of attempting to grab their only remaining ancestral land, popularly known as Mkporo Land, located along the busy Owerri/Aba Road.
Armed with green leaves as symbols of peace and resistance, the aggrieved protesters—men, women, and youths—marched through the community while chanting solidarity and protest songs.
Their unified call was for the Shared Prosperity Governor,Uzodimma, to halt any further encroachment or land acquisition plans by those they described as “unscrupulous elements” disguising under government authority.
Speaking on behalf of the men, Elder Christian Ogbonna expressed deep frustration over what he described as the continuous and systematic seizure of Naze community land by the state government over the years.
According to him, the community painstakingly cleared and preserved Mkporo Land for decades, primarily as a heritage for future generations yet to own homes.
“We from Umuanyịahu-Umuakali Naze cleared this land over decades ago. Unfortunately, despite an ongoing court case, some government officials are pushing to encroach on our only remaining land;
“We shall resist with every lawful means until Governor Hope Uzodimma, whom we know is not personally involved in land grabbing, comes to our aid,” Elder Ogbonna stated.
Adding her voice, the Naze Community Woman Leader, Lolo Ifeoma Chukwu, lamented that despite previously releasing large portions of land for state government projects, including Naze Alaba Market, the Cluster Area, Otammiri Area, and Timber Market Area, the community’s last remaining land is still under threat.
“We have sacrificed so much already. Our children now have nowhere left to build their future homes;
“We are calling on Governor Uzodimma to caution those using his name and mandate to grab our land,” she appealed.
Representing the Youth Wing, Comrade Ugochukwu Mba decried what he termed as deliberate intimidation and pressure by certain state officials to dispossess the community of its land.
He specifically mentioned top government functionaries, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri; the Imo State Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Engr. Ikenna Elezieanya; and some officials from the Ministry of Commerce.
“We are aware that Governor Uzodimma has no personal interest in acquiring our land, but some of his aides are using his name to forcefully take what belongs to us. We urge the Governor to step in and call them to order,” Comrade Mba said.
Similarly, Mazi Donatus Nzerem, another prominent voice in the community, condemned what he described as land racketeering by government officials allegedly working under the guise of executing the Governor’s directives.
He particularly condemned the recent move to demolish a multi-million naira shopping complex belonging to his brother, Engr. Benco Nzerem, a structure which he said has been unlawfully marked for demolition.
Mazi Nzerem appealed to Governor Uzodimma to intervene, considering the financial investments already made on the building and the employment opportunities it has created for many Imo youths.
Despite repeated attempts by this reporter to reach the government officials accused of orchestrating the land encroachment for their comments, all efforts as of the time of filing this report proved abortive.
