Original Landowners In Imo Raise Fresh Alarm Over Return Of Land Grabbers In Irete

There is palpable tension currently developing in Irete, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, following a new allegations of land grabbing over a disputed parcel of land located along the Irete/Egbeada Road, opposite Grace-Land Estate, behind the Chevron (Corporation) Nigeria Ltd. (CNL) site and close to the Mobile Police Station in Irete.

While speaking during a visit to the site on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Elder Joshua Onwu (Jonik) who is the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Jonik Real Estate Managers Limited, Irete when led the members of the two original landowning families- Onwu and Ebere families, from Umuogbuaku Umuoyo Irete raised concerns over what they described as an alleged attempt to encroach and unlawfully take possession of their ancestral land.

Elder Jonik specifically accused one Mr. Tony Okenwa of Umungada Irete of allegedly working in collaboration with certain individuals whom he described as suspected fake agents claiming to represent the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in an effort to encroach on the property.

According to him, “the disputed land measures approximately eight and a half plots (8.5 plots) and has remained the ancestral property of the affected families for generations.

The community leader further alleged that no compensation was paid to the original landowners and that neither due process nor proper due diligence was followed by those laying claim to the land.

According to him, the property belongs to the Umuogbuaku Umuoyo Irete kindred and was preserved for future generations.

“We are worried at this point because our amiable Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, has repeatedly warned against land grabbing.

Unfortunately, those whose stock-in-trade is grabbing other people’s lands have continued to ignore these warnings. We are appealing to the Governor to deal decisively with anyone involved so that justice can prevail,” Elder Jonik stated.

He further lamented that the purported agents and individuals claiming to be staff members of the Federal Housing Authority allegedly entered the land with a caterpillar machine and destroyed several economic and cash crops, including cassava farms and other cultivated crops valued at over ₦10 million.

Elder Jonik disclosed that members of the affected families have already lost significant portions of their ancestral inheritance, adding that many of their children and younger generations no longer have sufficient land on which to build their own homes.

Expressing deep concern over the development, Elder Jonik and other affected landowners called on the Nigeria Police Force, relevant security agencies, and the Shared Prosperity Administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma to urgently intervene in the matter.

They demanded the immediate arrest and thorough investigation of all persons allegedly connected to the disputed land activities, insisting that anyone found culpable should be brought to justice in accordance with the law.

The landowners also appealed to the authorities to protect their legitimate ownership rights and safeguard their ancestral property from what they described as persistent encroachment attempts.

As of the time of filing this report, several efforts made to obtain the reaction of Mr. Tony Okenwa and the individuals alleged to be representatives of the Federal Housing Authority proved unsuccessful, as they could not be reached for comments.