Mbaishii Autonomous community in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State have declared that their cultural heritage, economic survival, and legal rights are under siege by what they describe as an orchestrated and unlawful land acquisition scheme.
At press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, community leaders under the auspices of Mbaishii People’s Assembly, issued a sobering warning about the long-term consequences of the state government’s actions. They claim that over 80% of the farmland used by the communities has been lost, leaving thousands without any means of livelihood.
The land, they allege, has been forcefully handed to Zion Ministry under Evangelist Ebuka Obi, with bulldozers destroying farms, poultry, and plantations, while military personnel enforce the takeover. Residents say the presence of armed soldiers has instilled fear, halted all farming activities, and led to a humanitarian crisis marked by hunger, unemployment, and looming famine.
The Mbaishii people accuse the Imo State Government of using executive power to violate constitutional provisions, including Articles 14 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
They also challenge the legality of the military’s involvement, noting that Section 217 of the Nigerian Constitution only permits military deployment under specific conditions such as war or insurrection — neither of which exists in Mbaishii.
The community’s call is clear: they want the Nigerian President, military leadership, and police authorities to step in and end the occupation of their land. They further request a comprehensive investigation into the entire transaction, insisting that their right to own and protect their land must be upheld.
“Our dignity, our identity, and our children’s future are being trampled,” one of the elders lamented. “This is not just about land; it is about survival, justice, and democracy.”
The communities reaffirmed their commitment to peace and law, but stressed that justice must prevail for harmony to be restored.
This assault on our economic base has all the features of a genocide. A silent, systematic erasure of a people’s means of survival,” the spokesperson said.
The Mbaishii communities called on President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector-General of Police to immediately order the withdrawal of security forces from their lands and halt what they described as “executive lawlessness.”
They also urged journalists and media houses to investigate the matter independently and bring international attention to what they described as “a blatant abuse of power, a breach of fundamental rights, and a threat to democracy.”
“This is no longer just about land. It is about the soul of justice, the dignity of human life, and the survival of our people,” they concluded.
