Community leaders and stakeholders of Enuogu Autonomous Community, Nkerefi, in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, have accused individuals linked to Ihuezeofia Village of engaging in what they described as a campaign of blackmail, intimidation and misinformation against the community leadership and the Enugu State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Dr. Charles Egumgbe.
The leaders, in a statement jointly signed by the Traditional Ruler of Enuogu Autonomous Community, Igwe Emmanuel Onukwube; Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Mr. Isaac Ugbor; Secretary, Barr. Abel Ani; and other stakeholders, also urged the police, Department of State Services and other security agencies to investigate alleged threats, impersonation and incitement capable of undermining peace in the community.
The stakeholders were reacting to recent publications accusing Egumgbe of bias and alleging the marginalisation of Ihuezeofia Village.
They dismissed the allegations as false, insisting that those behind the publications neither represented Ihuezeofia Village nor had the mandate to speak for Enuogu Autonomous Community.
“The alarmists are invidious impostors claiming to be what they are not. They do not have the mandate of Ihuezeofia Village or Enuogu Autonomous Community. They are not recognised officers of the Town Union and therefore cannot speak for the people,” the leaders said.
They alleged that the individuals behind the campaign were “known crisis merchants and skeletal moles” who allegedly manufacture petitions and false narratives whenever government or development interventions are attracted to the community.
“Every time government, non-governmental organisations or public-spirited individuals attract development to Enuogu, these same elements immediately manufacture crises, circulate falsehoods and attempt to frustrate progress. Their objective is neither justice nor development, but personal relevance through instability,” they alleged.
The community leaders also rejected claims that Ihuezeofia had been marginalised, citing what they described as the village’s representation in various community and government structures.
According to them, the village has produced elected and appointed officials, including a councillor, Financial Secretary of the Town Union and Deputy President-General, while also benefiting from infrastructure and government interventions such as electricity facilities, road improvements, healthcare initiatives and employment opportunities.
“It is therefore astonishing that those who have benefited immensely from the collective goodwill of the community now seek to deceive the public by painting a false picture of exclusion,” the statement said.
The stakeholders further questioned the credentials of some of the petitioners, alleging that certain individuals had used academic and political titles they did not possess. They urged the affected individuals to produce evidence of their qualifications, describing the alleged conduct as capable of misleading public institutions.
The leaders also defended the constitution of the caretaker committee, dismissing claims that the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs imposed it to manipulate the affairs of Enuogu.
They said the state government constituted the committee in March 2026 as a temporary peace-building measure after intelligence reports allegedly indicated an impending breakdown of law and order.
The stakeholders specifically accused one Mr. Edeson Chukwudi of allegedly recruiting armed youths and threatening violence if a suspended Town Union election did not produce him as president.
“The intervention of government prevented what could have degenerated into bloodshed. The caretaker committee was not created to favour anybody but to restore peace and create an atmosphere conducive for a free, fair and violence-free election,” they said.
“It is therefore both mischievous and irresponsible for those who precipitated the crisis to now turn around and accuse the Commissioner of bias simply because government refused to surrender to intimidation.”
The leaders alleged that some individuals had continued to reject constitutional processes because they feared losing a transparent election, opting instead for what they described as blackmail, media propaganda and attempts to discredit community leaders and government officials.
They also raised security concerns over alleged threats against some community leaders and prominent individuals.
According to them, names of certain individuals had allegedly been compiled by members of an armed group, with threats to “deal with” them over the leadership dispute.
The stakeholders urged security agencies to investigate the allegations, protect the affected leaders and hold anyone found responsible for issuing threats accountable.
“Those issuing threats should bear full responsibility for any breakdown of law and order, as well as any violence directed against innocent members of the community,” they warned.
The leaders also alleged that some of the actors were pursuing political interests by attempting to create confrontation between the community and the Enugu State Government.
They, however, expressed confidence in Egumgbe’s neutrality and commitment to due process, while commending Governor Peter Mbah for what they described as his swift intervention to preserve peace in Enuogu.
The stakeholders said the dispute had moved beyond an ordinary leadership disagreement and acquired security implications requiring urgent attention from law enforcement agencies.
They called on the police, DSS and other relevant authorities to investigate the alleged threats and ensure that no individual or group was allowed to undermine peace in the community.
The leaders reaffirmed the unity of Enuogu Autonomous Community and its commitment to constitutional democracy, fairness and peaceful development.
They also commended Governor Mbah for infrastructure and development projects in Nkerefi, including roads, bridges, Smart Green Schools, healthcare facilities, rural electrification and human-capital initiatives, as well as appointments of community members into various sectors of his administration.
The stakeholders pledged their continued support for the administration while warning that propaganda, intimidation and alleged threats would not be allowed to derail peace and development in the community.
