Abia State Monarch Raises Alarm Over Herders’ Massive Land Grabs, Warns of Looming Security Crisis

 

Tensions are mounting in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, following revelations by a traditional ruler about extensive land acquisitions allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen. Eze Okey Ananaba, the monarch of Okahia Autonomous Community, has sounded a dire warning over what he perceives as a gathering storm of insecurity triggered by these developments.

During a sensitization visit and town hall meeting hosted by officials of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Eze Ananaba laid bare his community’s growing fears. He cited not only the destruction of farmland and the proliferation of illegal weapons but also the intimidating posture of the herders, who have reportedly threatened to harm or kill local vigilantes and farmers that challenge them.

According to the monarch, the scale of the land being acquired by the suspected herdsmen is staggering. More than 5,000 plots have reportedly changed hands, particularly in sensitive locations such as Mgboko Umuanunu — a border area near Akwa Ibom State — and Akpaa Mbato, situated behind the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN) in Ovom, Aba.

“This isn’t just about land; it’s about survival,” Eze Ananaba stated. “What we are seeing is not ordinary. These large acquisitions could serve as operational bases for violent activities. Our people are living in fear, and the silence from government quarters is deafening.”

Other communities in Obingwa are said to be experiencing similar trends, raising concerns that the entire local government area might be under a coordinated land acquisition drive with potentially dangerous implications.

While the monarch was resolute in his condemnation of the ongoing transactions, he also revealed that traditional rulers in the affected areas have repeatedly taken their concerns to the Abia State Government. Multiple petitions, he said, have been submitted to urge the government to intervene and halt the sales. So far, those efforts appear to have yielded no action.

“Traditional rulers are closest to the people. We are the eyes and ears of the government in these rural communities. When we raise concerns, they should not be ignored. We see the danger ahead, and it is real,” he emphasized.

The concern is not limited to land purchases alone. Locals allege that some traditional rulers may be complicit in facilitating the deals. At the town hall meeting, several participants openly accused certain leaders of allowing or even encouraging the transactions without proper oversight.

“It’s impossible for a transaction involving 1,000 plots to go unnoticed. The traditional rulers in those areas have to be aware — it’s either they are silent, or they are involved,” said one of the speakers. This sentiment reflects a growing mistrust among residents, not just towards the herders but also towards their own leadership.

There were also sharp criticisms directed at the Abia State Ministry of Lands. Attendees questioned how such vast swaths of rural land could be approved for private acquisition without rigorous investigation into the purpose of the purchase.

“Let’s call it what it is — a systemic failure. If the ministry continues to register these land acquisitions without conducting proper background checks, then it’s aiding insecurity. We don’t want our communities to become another Benue or Plateau, where people live under constant threat,” another resident stated.

Fears of a repeat of the violent clashes and community displacements experienced in other parts of Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt, are not unfounded. Numerous attacks attributed to bandits and militant herders have left scores dead and thousands displaced in states like Benue and Plateau.

Eze Ananaba called on Governor Alex Otti to take urgent steps to investigate and halt the growing trend before it spirals into a full-blown crisis. He insisted that the security of Abia State cannot be guaranteed if local communities continue to be infiltrated and dominated by forces with unclear motives and unchecked power.

The monarch stressed that while not all herders may be violent or illegal in their dealings, the current patterns and lack of transparency leave too much room for suspicion and potential conflict.

“What we ask for is simple — transparency, regulation, and security. Let land transactions be properly documented, verified, and justified. Let government institutions act in the interest of the people, not just paperwork,” he urged.

The people of Obingwa are now watching to see whether the government will respond to their outcry. For now, anxiety reigns in the communities affected, with many locals saying they have stopped farming entirely out of fear for their lives.

Without swift and decisive intervention from the state authorities, the tension in Obingwa may deepen, and the region could be on the brink of the very violence and displacement that its leaders are trying to prevent.