Urum Monarch goes into hiding as Community fights over Govt. Acquisition of Communal Land

www.odogwublog.com reports that Urum Community in Awka North local government area could be said to be a community without a leader as the monarch, Igwe Benedict Nweke has abandoned his throne for fear of being attacked.
Igwe Nweke went into hiding following attack on his palace by people he said came from Achalla neighbouring community following his handing over of a disputed land between his community and Achalla to Anambra state government which they rather said he sold.
But the traditional ruler of Urum kingdom debunked the allegation that he sold the land, saying that they were orchestrated to smear his image and reputation.

The monarch, who has been into hiding since Achalla community attacked his palace recently, explained that the parcel of land was acquired by the State government to wage a war between Urum and Achalla community who have been in contention of the land for many years now.
And on the protest against him by his subjects, Igwe added that “the rented mob you saw at Awka are not from Urum Community but Abakaliki people living in Urum.

Igwe Nweke challenged anybody to prove that government paid any money to him, even as he also debunked the allegation that he is harbouring Fulani herdsmen.
He informed he is just a member of the State Cattle menace committee.
Just as the age long land dispute between Urum and Achalla communities, last weekend took another dimension as the people of  Urum community in Awka North Local Council Area of Anambra embarked on a protest alleging the illegal acquisition of their land by the state government through unauthorised persons, who they alleged, have no share in the land.

Attempt by the Nigerian Police, led by CSP Fasugba Temitope to foil the mass protest proved abortive as the unstoppable protesters continued singing and dancing in front of the Anambra state government house in Awka with placards of various inscriptions.

Some of their placards read: “Urum community has been enslaved for 35 years by Igwe B.O Nweke, “Igwe B.O Nweke is a sad commentary on Urum community, “The purported sale of Ochiokwa land can never go down well with our people, “Igwe B.O Nweke has disinherited us of our inheritance among others.

The over 2000 protesters from the agrarian community, claimed that their monarch, Igwe Benedict Okafor-Nweke and his collaborators secretly sold over 328 hectares of land, belonging to the community to the Anambra State government for the purpose of establishing a mass Housing estate in the town.

The Patron of Urum Town union, Prof. Ephraim Aniebona, who often referred to the monarch as a mere Chief informed journalists that HRH Igwe B.O Nweke has been rejected and dethroned as the traditional ruler of the town for his involvement in the sale of the land without paying compensation to the right people.

He also alleged that the monarch instigates crisis, impoverish the people and established a colony of cattle herdsmen in the town, who, he said destroy farm lands and rape their wives and children.

He however called on the government to strip Igwe Nweke of his authority as the traditional ruler of the town and as well probe the fraudulent acquisition of the farm land with the intention of prosecuting the perpetrators.