Property Demolition: Onitsha Bizman alleges Threat to Life, Seeks Soludo, ANSHA Intervention

By Praise Chinecherem

An Onitsha businessman, Benedict Obi has raised the alarm over alleged threat to his life and demolition of portion of his building in Ogbuloji Akwa Ifitedunu Dunukofia local government area of Anambra state.

Obi accused certain members of his extended family to be responsible for the demolition in connivance with security personnel.

Speaking to newsmen weekend, Obi called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo, State Assembly and Rights Activists to come to his rescue and indeed the entire Ifitedunu community, which he claimed to be in bondage.

He said he chose the path of peace to seek justice rather than reprisal considering the fact that the suspects were members of his kindred.

He said, “The level of rascality going on in my community is getting out of hand. Nobody has monopoly of violence, nor has the right to take the laws into their hands.

“Despite the damages they’ve done to my house, I don’t intend to carry out any reprisal attack. I want justice to take its course.

“I’m calling on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to my aid and indeed the entire Ifitedunu community. I’m also appealing to the state House of Assembly, human rights crusaders and lovers of peace to intervene in this anomaly.

“This rascality must be investigated. The perpetrators hide under the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to commit the atrocities, claiming nothing will happen.”

Narrating his ordeal, Obi said trouble started in 2021 following his decision to erect a structure in a land acquired by his late father which had never been in dispute.

His words: “I commenced the building in 2021 in my father’s acquired, not inherited land. My late mum, while alive, had begged me to erect an upstairs for her.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t build the house until she died. Though I started the structure while her corpse was in the morgue.

“Meanwhile, my father told me that when his brother died, his grave was already dug inside the land he acquired with his money before his return for the burial.

“He however decided not to make case with them having in mind to relocate the grave when ready to build, according to customs and tradition. But unfortunately he died without developing the land.

“The second son of that my uncle who mischievously buried his brother in my father’s land also buried his son inside the same land as against the wife of his late son’s advice who pleaded with her father in-law to bury the husband at his own ‘ani-obi’ inherited potion of land.

“When I put up a fence ahead of my building in that my father’s land, the third son of that my mischievous late uncle reported me officially to our kindred accusing me of building on the land belonging to their late father.

“Our kindred led by then Chairman, Christopher Iheanacho invited all members of Obi’s family and after much deliberations resolved that the land belonged to my father and instructed my late uncle’s family to hands off the land.

“The kinsmen concluded that whenever they were ready to build, they would be shown the portion of lands where the graves would be traditionally relocated and I will take care of of the traditional rites attached to the grave relocation.

“This agreement was not disputed by both parties. We rather gave drinks to our kindred in appreciation for their intervention, paving way for continuation of my building – the upstairs and the perimeter fence with gate.

“Sometime in 2023, these same people returned and demolished some portion of my fence. When I reported them to our kindred, they were warned to desist from the act and pleaded with me to forgive them in the spirit of brotherhood and go ahead with the repair.

“I actually forgave and repaired the damages only for them to resurface this November, saying their Oga gave them the order to demolish the whole building and kill me if I show up.

“I was later informed that those behind the act were being instigated by a certain politician for obvious reasons. My lawyer advised me to write a petition to State CID to look into the matter. I reported to State CID who told me to write another statement.

“Few days later, two of the culprits were apprehended but they boasted they would not stay beyond 10 minutes in detention, claiming their sponsor, an APGA chieftain, highly connected with government will ensure their immediate release.

“They were shouting that their ‘Oga at the top’ delivered Soludo during the elections and has the entire Police and Army in the State in his pocket. They also boasted to demolish the whole building, and even kill me and nothing will happen.

“To my greatest chargrin, these suspects were released within two hours that same day just as they boasted. When I inquired at the State CID they told both parties to maintain status quo and come the next day being November 13, 2025.

“As the drama continued, it became obvious to me that the police has been compromised. So I decided to engage the media so assist me escalate my predicament so the governor, lawmakers and other relevant authorities can come to my rescue.”

When contacted, immediate past Chairman of Okpuloji kindred, Christopher Iheanacho who handled the land dispute with his kinsmen in 2021 and 2023 confirmed the land belonged to Benedict Obi.

He however alleged that the demolition of the property might not be unconnected to the chairmanship tussle in the kindred.

“Benedict’s father acquired the land. The minute book which captured where both parties accepted the verdict is still available as an evidence to the judgement.

“There is more to the demolition of the property than the issue of graves. The whole matter can be traced to the kindred chairmanship tussle.

“It was the turn of the Ilo Okolocha family to produce the kindred Chairman but was denied the opportunity which led to strifes and factions.

“Some powers outside the family started instigating those behind the act to demolish the property of Benedict Obi because he was the person who was bold enough to insist that justice and equity must prevail,” he added.

Corroborating Iheanacho, Elder Cyril Madunabia and Mrs Theresa Akpaka confirmed the land belonged to Benedict Obi and that the matter has long been resolved.

They wondered why the suspects would allow themselves to be used as tools to persecute the victim whom they have directly or indirectly benefitted from.