Abia Airport Project: Prominent Elder Arrested Amidst Land Dispute, Sparking Community Outrage

• Umuezeukwu, Umuezenta Communities, Others Mobilise For Protest

Umuahia, Abia State – The planned construction of a new airport in Abia State has sparked a fierce conflict between the state government and the Nsulu Nation in Isiala Ngwa North local government, which escalated dramatically with the arrest of Dr. Max Nduaguibe, a community leader.

The arrest, which took place over the weekend at his family home in Umuezenta, has sparked widespread condemnation and protests in the Nsulu community and elsewhere.

Dr. Nduaguibe, a respected legal luminary and elder statesman, is a prominent voice in the community’s opposition to the airport’s construction, which they claim is being built on their ancestral farmland, their sole source of income.

According to his son, Cornel Max-Nduaguibe, more than 40 heavily armed police officers from the Umuahia Police Headquarters surrounded the family home and arrested Dr. Nduaguibe without a warrant.

The arrest is widely believed to be linked to the community’s planned protest against the airport project’s scheduled kick-off ceremony, which will be attended by Governor Alex Otti and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo.

Cornel Max-Nduaguibe issued a scathing statement describing the arrest as “brazen harassment” and an “abuse of power.”

He accused the Abia State government of using intimidation to silence dissent and seize communal lands.

He emphasised his father’s significant contributions to the community and challenged the government’s methods, stating,

“Is this how the government intends to treat our people and the elderly? By using force and intimidation to confiscate our lands and rights?”

The police have yet to issue an official statement regarding Dr. Nduaguibe’s arrest. According to reports, they are refusing to release him because they cannot find an official petition against him.

This lack of transparency has fueled community outrage, with claims that the arrest is a deliberate attempt to silence opposition and prevent protests during the airport’s flag-off.

The Nsulu community is not taking this lightly. Community leaders have called for a mass protest at Umuahia’s State CID to demand Dr. Nduaguibe’s immediate release.

Despite protests by the Umuezeukwu community during the week when Abia State government officials visited, additional protests are planned for Ubaha on Tuesday, demonstrating the community’s determination to fight for their land rights.

The call to action emphasizes the belief that Dr. Nduaguibe’s arrest is a ploy to prevent peaceful protest and legitimise the airport’s construction on land claimed by the Nsulu community without adequate resolution or compensation.

The situation highlights the growing conflict between the Abia State government and the Nsulu Kingdom over land rights and the consequences of large-scale development projects.

The arrest of Dr. Nduaguibe marks a significant escalation of the conflict and raises serious concerns about the state’s rule of law and human rights record.

The incident is likely to further polarize the community and stymie any attempts at a peaceful resolution to the land dispute.

Observers are now waiting to see how the Abia State government and the Nigeria Police Force respond to the growing public outcry.