By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Concerned citizens of Awka, Anambra State, have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, over what they described as alleged arbitrary police interference in a decades-long land dispute involving Chief Kenneth Afamefuna Ezekwesili of Umuike village, Awka.
In the petition, signed by Sunday Ezebunamadu on behalf of the group and addressed to the IGP in Abuja, the residents called on the police leadership to urgently investigate what they termed an “abuse of police powers” in relation to the dispute over Obuagu land, also known as “Egbeana-Obibia Land.”
“We, the concerned citizens of Awka in Anambra State, respectfully bring to your attention a matter of grave concern involving alleged abuse of police powers and arbitrary interference in a long-standing land dispute,” the petition read.
According to the petitioners, the disputed land has been a source of contention between the Obuagu Awka and Umuomamu Ifite Nibo communities since 1974.
They maintained that the matter had already been decided at both the High Court in Awka and the Court of Appeal in Enugu, with judgments reportedly in favour of Obuagu Awka, while the case is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
Despite these judicial outcomes, the group alleged continued police involvement in the matter.
Chief Ezekwesili, as quoted in the petition, claimed he was arrested in February 2026 while accessing the land under what he described as a court-authorised entry.
He further alleged subsequent arrests and an ongoing prosecution before a Magistrate Court in Awka in Suit No. MAW/43C/2026, which he said is still pending.
The petitioners expressed concern over what they described as the repeated use of the phrase “conduct likely to cause communal war” as justification for arrests in a matter already before competent courts.
They also raised concerns over the alleged sale of portions of the disputed land while litigation is ongoing, as well as claims of possible “pecuniary interest influencing police conduct.”
“If these allegations are true, they represent a serious deviation from the constitutional role of the police, which is to maintain peace and not to adjudicate land ownership disputes,” the petition stated.
The group, therefore, urged the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the conduct of the officers involved, ensure neutrality in all land disputes before the courts, and halt any further arrests connected to the matter.
They also called on the police leadership to reaffirm clear directives prohibiting interference in civil land disputes, except where there is a genuine breach of peace.
“The people of Awka believe strongly in the rule of law. Allowing court decisions to stand without unlawful interference is essential to maintaining public trust in law enforcement and the justice system,” the petition added.
However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Unit of the command stated that it was not aware of the crisis and that no petition had been made available to it.
