The protesters, most of who were half-naked women, elderly men and youths, were from Ndiezeoke community in the council area.
PUNCH reports that Igbeagu and Ndiezeoke communities share a common boundary.
They alleged that the former traditional head of Igbeagu community, Eze John Nwenyi, invaded their community land for the exploration of lead, adding that he had equally been forcing households to append their signatures as a confirmation that he owned the land.
Carrying placards with different inscriptions such as ‘Governor Umahi must hear this,’ and ‘Leave our poor community alone for peace to reign,” the protesters claimed that the former village head had resorted to threatening the entire community with policemen and soldiers.
Leader of the protesters, Mr Christian Nwogbagha, said, “The man approached us in 2016 to give him the land, the request was not granted.
“We have solid minerals deposit in our village and it was discovered since 2015. Since 2016, John Nwenyi has not allowed us to rest because he wants to mine the place. We told him that we are not yet prepared. One day he brought policemen and soldiers.”
The traditional head of Ndiezeoke community, Nwigwe Igboji, said they were at the Government House, Abakaliki, to draw the attention of Governor David Umahi-led government to the alleged invasion of their land since he was a listening governor.
He added, “The elders of the land had been prevailing on youths of the community, or they would have taken the laws into their own hands.”
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Chief Stanley Emegha, said the government was doing all it could to address their plight.
He said, “In two days time, you will not experience what you had experienced, again. So, go back. The government will sort it out for you.
Efforts to get Nwenyi, proved futile, as calls put across to his telephone were not answered. He had equally yet to respond to the text messages sent to the line as of the time of filing this report.
