Enugu widows left in tears as government demolishes homes in Uzamu Isinomeh

Residents and natives of Uzamu Isinomeh, Emene Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, including widows, were left in tears on Monday as their homes were demolished by officials of an Enugu State government agency.

The victims, including Ezinne Blessing Nkemjurum Oguike, a widow, recounted their ordeal to journalists, alleging that persons suspected to be officials from the Ministry of Lands and Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority ordered the demolition without prior notice.

Oguike, speaking through her son, Chukwuebuka Oguike, claimed that they had owned the land for over 62 years, acquired from the ancestral owners before the construction of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

The octogenarian stated they were not given any vacation notice or acquisition notice before the demolition, resulting in a loss of over 500 million naira.

She further claimed that despite obtaining approval for a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and paying the necessary fees, issuance was halted due to orders from above.

Another widow, Eunice Agbo, whose ancestral home was demolished, shared similar grievances, stating that efforts to obtain a C of O were futile as the land was deemed ancestral.

The widows appealed to the state government to intervene, fearing eviction from their ancestral or acquired lands.

“They have been disturbing me since my husband died. My husband died in 1979 and since then, they have been disturbing me.

“I have gone to the ministry of lands and archives to make inquiries and it was confirmed that the land belongs to my husband.

“I have a photocopy of the survey map of the area from the archives where the name of my husband Innocent Agbo was written as the owner of the land,” Agbo further lamented.

As of the time of reporting, the Enugu State government had not responded to the claims.