The President General of Enugwu-Agidi in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Pius Nwankwo, has raised alarm over the alleged militarisation of farmlands in the community by developers of the NAF Green Garden Estate project.
The estate, known as NAF Green Garden Estate, was unveiled in 2025 and advertised on social media as a major residential development project expected to feature about 800 duplexes alongside modern facilities.
According to the promotional materials, the estate is designed to include maximum security, an Air Force base, gated residential areas, asphalted roads, 24-hour electricity and water supply, nursery and primary schools, a shopping mall, a standard clinic, streetlights, a CCTV control room, and a fire service station. Recreational facilities such as a swimming pool, lawn tennis court, basketball and volleyball courts, badminton facilities, indoor sports areas, and a five-aside football pitch were also listed among its planned amenities.
However, Chief Nwankwo, in an open letter authored by Dr. Chinedu Ikeanyi, son of the late traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Davidson Ikeanyi, alleged that the land for the project was not legitimately acquired.
The letter, addressed to the supposed estate developer, claimed that military personnel had been stationed on the disputed land to intimidate residents and prevent landowners from accessing their ancestral farmlands.
“I wish to inform you that the military men you stationed at Enugwu-Agidi farmlands to guard your so-called NAF Green Garden Estate are wreaking havoc. They are now spreading to many other farmlands around the area. It is terrifying to arrive at one’s farmland and see armed military men staring at you in a menacing manner,” the letter stated.
The community leader argued that the Nigerian military had no legitimate reason to be stationed in the community’s farmlands, adding that the presence of armed personnel was inappropriate given the security challenges facing the country.
“Enugwu-Agidi farmlands are not Sambisa Forest. With the current crisis threatening Nigeria, the military should be deployed to Sambisa forests and other troubled areas, not to Enugwu-Agidi farmlands,” he said.
Chief Nwankwo further demanded that the developers and any individuals claiming ownership of the disputed land halt work immediately or present valid documents showing how the land was acquired to the Enugwu-Agidi Land Committee.
He alleged that over 150 plots of land claimed by the developers were wrongly acquired.
The community leader also warned prospective investors to be cautious.
“Anyone investing in this so-called Green Garden Estate is doing so at his or her own peril. I will stay on this message until justice is served,” he said.
He also appealed to Marc Benito Ozigbo to intervene and ensure that armed military personnel withdraw from the disputed farmlands to allow residents, including widows and families, access to their ancestral lands.
