Residents of Ebenesi Community in Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, staged a protest on Tuesday against the planned demolition of their ancestral homes to make way for a Transmission Company of Nigeria power line project.
The protesters, gathered at the Obi Ezenabo Traditional Centre, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene.
They alleged that officials of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board had marked houses for demolition, ordering landlords to vacate within 14 days or face government-led demolition at their own expense.
Community Chairman Chief Okechukwu Oraka, supported by his deputy Chief Patrick Nwanyiaku, said the project was diverted to Nnobi “through foul means” and lamented that no relocation plan had been provided.
“We are not against development, but people must live to enjoy it. Forcing us out of ancestral homes without alternatives is unacceptable,” Oraka stated.
Protesters claimed that more than six elders had collapsed and died after their homes were marked.
They insisted that power lines should not pass through residential areas and suggested underground routing as an alternative.
Elders, youths, and women carried placards rejecting the demolition, while representatives from villages including Ifite, Umuafor, and Umuona echoed calls for relocation or alternative arrangements.
An 81-year-old retired civil servant, Mrs Comfort Ngwudo, urged the government to avoid “oppressive policies” that threaten ancestral lands.
“How can anyone tell people to leave land they have lived on for over 200 years?” she asked.
The protesters later visited Awuda and Ngo quarters, the palace of traditional ruler Igwe Nick Obi, and the residence of President-General Chief Aloy Olubialu, who assured them their grievances would be communicated to authorities.
Responding, Anambra Physical Planning Board official Cletus Ohame said demolition notices were duly served and that the area had long been earmarked for the project.
The standoff highlights tensions between infrastructure development and community rights, as residents demand protection of ancestral homes while government insists on advancing power projects.
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