In what appears to be a case of might over civil justice in Ifitedunu, a businessman, Mr. Benedict Olisaemeka Obi, popularly known as Ben Gold, from Iru Okolocha kindred, Okpulorji Akwa village, Ifitedunu has cried out for help and the intervention of relevant authorities, including the State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR; the Anambra State House of Assembly; Civil Society Organisations; and Human Rights Crusaders to come to his rescue over the threats to his life and property in Ifitedunu.
According to Mr. Obi, powerful forces in his community Ifitedunu are conniving with his kinsmen to destroy him over land grabbing issue.
Narrating his ordeal to Newsmen at his country home, Ifitedunu, Mr. Obi stated that his building project under construction at his late father’s genuinely acquired land in Iru Okolocha kindred of Okpulorji village, Ifitedunu has been under serial attacks by men suspected to be sponsored by a powerful son of Ifitedunu who has been holding the community under siege.
The thugs who claimed to be working for the powerful man allegedly boasting that he is in control of Anambra State government, the Anambra State Police Command, the Zone 13 Police Command, the Ifitedunu Community Vigilante, and any form of authority in the State have vowed to bring him down, for daring to challenge his authority, in seeking justice for his kinsmen who were unlawfully imprisoned by the powerful man.
“The land matter started five years ago when my cousin, Mr. Felix Obi started laying claim to a portion of my land where I have erected a fence, claiming that they buried their father in the said portion which is not their own land. The matter was reported to our kindred meeting Iru Okolocha kindred meeting, who waded into the matter and after hearing from the two parties, with eye witnesses, concluded that Mr. Felix Obi and his family should relocate their father’s grave to their own compound, in the traditional way because they trespassed on another man’s land, which he accepted without any grudges”.
“Three years later, precisely in 2023, the children of Mr. Felix Obi renewed hostility over the portion of land by tampering with my property, demolishing the fence of the building which I reported to our Kindred Meeting for justice. The children of Mr. Felix Obi were warned to desist from coming anywhere close to the piece of land because it is not their own”.
Continuing, Mr. Benedict Olisaemeka Obi stated that the current trouble ensued from his attempt to bail his kinsmen allegedly imprisoned by a man that has held the community to ransom. This led to a fresh attack on his property, which he reported to the police and the culprits were arrested for further interrogations.
However, after less than two hours, the miscreants were all released and they returned to the village, continued their demolition spree and threatened to also kill him, if he shows up, claiming that their Principal is above any force he may wish to report the matter to.
“My property is destroyed. Ifitedunu is under siege because of one man. We need the intervention of the State Government to investigate this matter and save us from our oppressor. If anyone has a genuine case, he should report to the appropriate authority and not take the laws into his hands by destroying my property. My life is in danger and I have no means of dealing with this man and his cohorts who have sworn that I cannot live in peace in my father’s compound”, Mr. Obi cried out.
Meanwhile, reports from our intensive investigation revealed that the matter has been a long standing issue which the kindred meeting had settled 5 years ago.
According to the former Chairman of Akpaeli family,
Iru Okolocha kindred, Okpulorji Akwa village Ifitedunu, Mr. Christopher Ifeanacho who chaired the Kindred meeting for about 14 years before handing over to a new chairman in January 2025, the matter was brought to their kindred meeting officially which they deliberated upon between Mr. Felix Obi and Mr. Benedict Obi, the records of which are still in their kindred meeting minutes book.
Mr. Ifeanacho maintained that both men are cousins from the same grandfather, adding that their investigations revealed that the father of Mr. Felix Obi was wrongly buried in another man’s land and ordered him to relocate his father’s grave to his own compound as is done traditionally, while Mr. Benedict Obi was appealed to assist them financially which both parties accepted and appreciated the kindred.
“What led to this latest demolition of Mr. Benedict Obi’s fence was beyond my imagination, because if for any reason, anyone feels agrieved, he should simply appeal to a higher authority in the community rather than resorting to rascality and taking the laws into their own hands”, he quipped.
Speaking further, Mr. Ifeanacho pointed out that Okpulorji has a leadership tussle among the three clans, namely: Iru Okobo, Iru Okolocha and Irudejili, who agreed to practice rotational leadership. After the turns of Iru Okobo and Iru Idejili, it was Iru Okolocha’s turn to lead, but forces beyond their control are insisting that it will not be. Hence, the internal wrangling that has led to many of their kinsmen to be whisked away to prison without bail nor trial for months.
“I think that those destroying Ben Gold’s property are against his efforts to seek justice for his kinsmen that have been unjustly imprisoned by powerful forces in the village”, he opined.
In their separate comments, an eye witness who is a 78 years old man, Mr. Cyril Nwankwo, and a neighbour, who is an elderly woman, Mrs Theresa Nwafor-Akpaka affirmed that the disputed parcel of land belongs to the father of Mr. Benedict Olisaemeka Obi who bought the land with his own money, in front of his inherited compound from their father, stressing that it baffles them that anyone is laying claim to the land.
