Nimo Women Protest Naked Over Alleged Land Grabs, Demand Urgent Action from Soludo

 

In a dramatic and culturally significant act of defiance, hundreds of women from Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State stormed the Anambra State Government House in Awka on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The women, in a desperate bid to draw attention to their plight, stripped naked—a traditional Igbo method of extreme protest—demanding intervention from Governor Chukwuma Soludo over alleged illegal land sales by their traditional ruler, Owelle Max Ike Oliobi.

The protesters, wielding placards and chanting songs of resistance, accused Owelle Oliobi of unlawfully selling off communal lands, leaving families without farmland and threatening their very means of survival. The women alleged that the monarch, in collaboration with the President-General of the Nimo Town Development Union (NTDU), Mr. Ekenenna Okafor-Omabor, and other community leaders, had been engaging in fraudulent land transactions that had sparked unrest in the community since January 2023.

"We Are Losing Everything!"

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mrs. Ngozi Okochi lamented that their farmlands—vital for their sustenance—had been taken away without consultation. “Our ancestral lands are being sold off indiscriminately. We no longer have anywhere to farm, and they want to force us into prostitution,” she cried out. “They have declared a ‘sit-at-home’ in Nimo because we now wake up every day with nothing to do. Farming is our lifeline, and they have destroyed it.”

The protesters submitted a petition to the governor through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, detailing their grievances. Among their allegations was the claim that Owelle Oliobi had secretly ceded approximately 264 plots of individually owned land to the neighboring Eziowelle community without informing or compensating the rightful owners.

The women also accused the traditional ruler of using vigilante operatives as his private enforcement squad, harassing and arresting dissenting voices on trumped-up charges. They claimed that detained individuals were only released after paying hefty bribes, further fueling resentment within the community.

Government’s Response and Call for Calm

As the protest intensified, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, arrived at the scene alongside the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. Addressing the aggrieved women, Prof. Chukwulobelu expressed deep concern over the crisis. “I feel bad that this issue remains unresolved,” he said. He assured them that Governor Soludo would be briefed immediately and that urgent steps would be taken to bring all parties to the table for dialogue. “We will call the principal actors together and find a lasting solution,” he pledged, urging the women to remain peaceful.

Hon. Nwabunwanne, in his remarks, acknowledged that the situation in Nimo was longstanding and deeply rooted in the controversial sale of Owa Land. He assured the protesters that the Commissioner for Lands would be involved in assessing the extent of the alleged sales to determine the best course of action.

Traditional Ruler and NTDU Deny Allegations

Despite the mounting pressure, the Nimo Town Development Union (NTDU) has consistently dismissed such protests as the handiwork of “disgruntled elements” and “hired agitators.” The union’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Clems Ezedinachi, previously stated that the sale of portions of Owa Land—now known as Obodo Oma Estate—was approved by the Nimo General Assembly years ago and managed transparently for the community’s development.

Similarly, Owelle Max Ike Oliobi has denied personal involvement in any illicit land sales, insisting that all transactions were conducted in line with community agreements.

As of the time of this report, neither the traditional ruler nor the NTDU had issued an official response to the latest protest. Additionally, the Anambra State Police Command has yet to comment on allegations of harassment and unlawful arrests raised by the women.

A Community on the Brink

The boldness of the Nimo women’s naked protest underscores the severity of the crisis and the growing desperation within the community. Beyond the immediate issue of land ownership, the unfolding drama raises pressing questions about governance, accountability, and the protection of ancestral lands across Anambra State.

As the government considers its next move, all eyes remain on Governor Soludo, whose intervention could determine whether peace is restored or tensions escalate further in Nimo.