Hundreds of residents of Ugwuto, Nsude Community in the Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State on Monday staged a peaceful protest over alleged land grabbing by Enpower Energy Limited.
The protesters, comprising elderly men, women, and children, marched through the community’s civic centre with placards, singing solidarity songs, “We no go agree ooo”, “Nooo to land grabbers”.
Some of the placards reads: “We Say No To Land Grabbers”; “Enpower Leave Our Land Alone”; “Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah Save Us From Land Grabbers,” and the protesters demanded that the company vacate their land, citing a long-standing dispute that began in 2019.
According to community leaders, the company allegedly destroyed their crops and continued to encroach on their land despite a court case, describing such as an act of impunity.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Vincent Chukwuani, an elder in the community, said the firm came to their land without authorization and began to destroy their crops.
“The people called Enpower came to our land without authorization and began to destroy our crops. They came with bulldozer. The land is called “Ugwuto Land” and the invasion on the land started six years ago. We reported the matter to the state government and there was no response.
“We do not know them. They came from backyard. What prompted today’s protest is that they came again last month and destroyed our land even when the matter is still pending in court,” he said.
The community accused the company of intimidation and harassment, with some members reportedly threatened and arrested by the police.
Another protester, Linus Ugwuoga said, “We have gone far even to Abuja and even the government denied them. We went to court and the matter was adjourned to December 19, 2025, yet they are still in our land destroying our crops. We have other government projects in our land such as Water Reservoir, International Market but we are not complaining. But these people called Enpower, we don’t know them.
“This is a community that is peace loving. We do not want to take laws into our own hands; if not the story won’t be the same. We try to negotiate with them, we even called them to meet us but they failed to come. And last time we went to see the current Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, he said, he doesn’t know them.
“But there are some people in government who are in the know of what they are doing. The local government chairman is aware of it because the life of our President-General is at risk. They have threatened him, even chased his vehicle and it was by the grace of God that he escaped,” he said.
A former governorship candidate and community leader, Emeka Eneh, said the community had tried to negotiate with the leadership of the company.
“We even called them to meet us, but they failed to come. There are some people in government who are in the know of what the man (MD of the company) is doing.
 “We went into investigation to know if they actually came from the government and we discovered that government is not aware of their existence. When we are not around, they will come and arrest innocent people just to intimidate them.”
The community called on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene and stop the alleged land grabbing, adding that Ugwuto community members will fight to protect their land.
The protesters later dispersed peacefully after their demonstration, but not before reiterating their determination to resist the company’s alleged land grabbing.
When our correspondent contacted the Enpower Energy’s representative, who identified himself as Mr. Kingsley Okereke, he stated that the company would not engage any dispute with the community.
“Our company is not joining issues with the community, please. We are already engaging the community members,” he said.
