Land grabbing: Family decries use of security operatives to intimidate them, urges Governor Soludo to come to their rescue

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

The Okwesi family of Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State has decried the use of security operatives by a Real Estate Developer to harass, intimidate and unlawfully arrest his people in their own property.
Speaking to newsmen, Chief Charles Okwesi, who is the chairman of Okwesi family called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and all people of good conscience to intervene to prevail on Bishop Onyeka Nzekwe from further harassing them in their own property.
He said in the past Nzekwe had brought security operatives including the military and the Police to harass, intimidate them and in each ocassion their people were injured, arrested and detained.
In another ocassion, Charles alleged thar Nzekwe brought touts and hoodlums who were shooting indiscriminately, but later arrested with about five fire arms and taken to Abuja.
Just yesterday, being Tuesday May 20,2025, he said Nzekwe again allegedly through the State Ministry of Lands brought some men of Civil Defence who beat their people and arrested them but latter left them.
He said the increasing use of security operatives illegally by the Chief Executive of Pinleaf is becoming a serious concern, alleging that one Mr Oliver Okeke from Ifite Dunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the State was the person backing him.
When contacted the leader of the Civil Defence team who didn’t mention his name said that they were not sent by the State Command of Civil Defence but by the Ministry of Lands.
He said they arrested some people but they have released them, warning them not to be seen in the land he said was in dispute.
But Charles queried when dd Ministry of Lands started arbitrating on land disputes, saying that the whole thing was masterminded by Nzekwe who want to hijack their ancestral land through the back door which has failed.
When contacted Bishop Nzekwe’s number did not go through but when he spoke with newsmen last time he denied using thugs and security operatives to intimidate and harass the Okwesi family.
The Chief Executive of Pinleaf said he was not a violent man, wondering how he can use violence to settle rifts.