Ejiofor Raises Alarm Over Ukpata Insecurity, Urges Mbah to Reclaim Ancestral Lands

By Chukwudi Ebele

Human rights lawyer and social critic, Sir Ifeanyichukwu Ejiofor, has called on Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to urgently intervene in the reported security crisis in Ukpata community, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, warning that continued inaction could expose more ancestral lands to alleged encroachment by armed criminal groups.

Ejiofor made the appeal in a strongly worded article titled “A Desecrated Homeland, A Terrified People: Governor Peter Mbah, the Time to Reclaim Ukpata Is Now; Reclaim Ukpata and Uzo-Uwani Before a De Facto Territorial Conquest Becomes Irreversible.”

In the article, the lawyer highlighted concerns raised by Chief Eziuche Linus, the Onowu of Ukpata, over alleged attacks, the occupation of farmlands and the growing insecurity confronting residents of the agrarian community.

Describing the community leader as the voice of a people facing uncertainty over the safety of their homeland, Ejiofor said the account contained in an audio message painted a disturbing picture of alleged territorial encroachment, displacement and threats to residents’ livelihoods.

According to him, armed groups allegedly operating from surrounding forests have reportedly occupied farmlands, leaving members of the community fearful of losing access to their ancestral properties.

“Ukpata is an agrarian community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, whose people depend predominantly on farming for their survival,” Ejiofor stated, stressing that the reported developments require urgent attention from the state government and relevant security agencies.

Ejiofor further raised concerns over allegations that women had suffered sexual violence on ancestral farmlands and that residents who challenged the alleged armed occupants faced threats.

He described the reported incidents as a serious assault on human dignity, communal life and the fundamental rights of residents to live, farm and move freely without fear.

“What ought to be an unthinkable violation of human dignity is, according to this disturbing testimony, becoming a terrifying reality,” he said.

The lawyer called for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the allegations, urging security agencies to establish the facts, identify those responsible for any criminal acts and ensure that victims and vulnerable residents receive adequate protection.

He also questioned the adequacy of the existing security response, asking what measures were being taken to secure the forests, protect farming communities and restore confidence among residents.

Ejiofor appealed directly to Governor Mbah to deploy the necessary security resources to address the situation, investigate the reported occupation of farmlands and facilitate the safe return of any displaced families.

He urged the governor to seek additional support where necessary, warning that allowing armed criminal elements to operate unchecked could further undermine public safety and the authority of the state.

“Ukpata is in Enugu State. These are your people. Their ancestral lands fall within your jurisdiction, and their cries must not go unanswered. Something must be done, and it must be done now,” he said.

He also called for a coordinated response involving relevant security agencies and forest security personnel, insisting that rural communities should not be left exposed to persistent threats.

According to Ejiofor, the situation requires immediate action to protect residents, secure farmlands and prevent further displacement.

The human rights lawyer warned that failure to address the reported incidents could lead to more families losing access to their farms and ancestral properties.

He cautioned that what might begin as the alleged occupation of individual farmlands could develop into a wider crisis if the authorities failed to act decisively.

“If the alleged territorial encroachment is allowed to continue unchecked, there is a grave danger that more ancestral lands will be lost, more families displaced and more communities reduced to frightened spectators in their own homeland,” Ejiofor warned.

He maintained that protecting Ukpata should be treated not merely as a local security concern but as a test of the state’s commitment to safeguarding lives, property and the rights of vulnerable rural communities.

Ejiofor also called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo youths to pay attention to the reported plight of the community, urging stakeholders to prioritise the safety and preservation of ancestral lands.

While acknowledging Governor Mbah’s performance in other areas of governance, he urged the governor not to allow the reported security challenges to escalate into a broader humanitarian crisis.

“The people of Ukpata deserve protection, not abandonment; security, and the assurance that no community will be sacrificed to the advance of armed violence,” he said.

Ejiofor concluded by urging the state government to act before the situation deteriorates further, stressing that the protection of residents and their ancestral lands must remain a priority.

“The time for urgent intervention is now. Let history record that when the alarm was sounded, decisive action followed, not that the cries of a threatened community were ignored until the damage became irreversible,” he stated.

He ended his message with the Igbo expression, “Osita dị mma, ọ dịbara gboo.”

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