Ifitedunu Business Man Seeks Soludo's Intervention as Community Member Allegedly Instigate Family Members To Demolish His Property
By Chukwudi Ebele
Benedict Obi a native of Ifitedunu community, Dunkofia Local Government Area has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to come to his rescue over the demolition of part of his building at his country home.
The victim whose life have been threatened severally alleged that perpetrators of the dastardly act who happened to be members of his extended family boasted that they have 'someone at the top who is an All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA party stalwart' that was backing them to continue the demolition of his property despite interventions from their kindred and the Nigerian police to settle their differences.
Narrating his ordeal Benedict Obi states:
'I reside at Onitsha, the second son of my dead parents.
"Sometimes in 2020 I intended to build in my father's land which he acquired (not inherited) not under any previous dispute with anyone at Ifitedunu. I live together with my siblings in my father's house but decided to build my own house. We live in the general compound belonging to our grandparents. Our grandfather married multiple wives who has their different huts (mkpuke). I am from the first son of my grandfather who inherited our grandfather's main hut (Obi).
"When my mother was alive she begged me to build a duplex in the compound since none has been able to do so from our extended family but before I could commence the building project she passed away. So, even before her funeral ceremony I started building the upstairs.
"Meanwhile, my father told me that because he resides at Onitsha, when his brother died before he could come home to Ifitedunu for that his late brother's burial they have already dug a grave for him inside the land my father acquired with his money.
"After the burial my father concluded that when he wants to make use of his land he would relocate the grave according to customs and tradition. Eventually my father passed on without developing the land.
"In 2007 when I traveled out of the country for business, the second son of that my uncle who mischievously buried his brother in my father's personally acquired land buried his second son inside the same piece of land even without the consent of the wife of his late son who was pleading with her father in-law to bury the husband at his own 'ani-obi' inherited potion of land.
"When I returned to question their actions. My aged mum repeated what my father said in the first instance, that whenever we her children wants to develop the land, the graves would be relocated traditionally.
"In 2021 when I erected a fence to commence my building in that land personally acquired by my father. The third son of that my mischievous late uncle, Felix Obi reported me officially to our kindred accusing me of building on the land belonging to their late father.
"Our kindred led by the Chairman Mr Christopher Iheanacho looked into the matter inviting all the members of Obi's family and after inspection and minuted deliberations resolved that the land personally belonged to my father and instructed the family of Felix Obi to hands off the land concluding that whenever the Felix Obi's family was ready they would show our kindred the portion of lands where the graves would be traditionally relocated but added that I, Benedict Obi will cater for the traditional rites attached to the grave relocation. Both of us did not protest against our kindred 's resolution. Rather our kindred told us to give them drinks if we were satisfied with their judgement which both of us did without compulsion back in 2021. I continued my building project finished the Upstairs and the perimeter fence with gate.
"Sometime in 2023, they Demolish some part of my fence, when I reported them to our Kindred they were warned to desist from such malicious damage and pleaded with me to repair it and forgive the culprits because we are all members of one large family. I forgave and repaired the damages only for them to resurface again this November saying that their Oga gave them the order to demolish the whole building and kill me if I show up.
"I was surprised that on November 3, 2025 someone called me on phone telling me that members of the same family of my mischievous uncle and others in my extended family were instigated by a politician to embark on the demolition of my property without reporting me or inviting me before any constituted authority be it, Kindred, Town Union, police or court to answer for any crime or offence.
"My lawyer who advised me to write a petition to State CID to look into the matter.
"On 11th November, I was called that the demolition of my fence continued and I reported to State CID who told me to write another statement.
"On the 12th of November 2025, police from state CID came and arrested two of the culprits who boasted that they will not last more than 10 minutes in police detention claiming that their Sponsor who is an APGA party chieftain was highly connected with government will ensure their immediate release from police custody.
"They were shouting that their 'Oga at the top' delivered Soludo during the elections, that he has the entire police and Army in Anambra State in his pocket, that they would demolish the whole building, and even kill me and nothing will happen," alleged Benedict Obi.
"To my surprise despite seeing the extent of damage done on my fence and hearing the voice note threats against my life, the suspects were released from detention within two hours that same day. Just as they boasted their 'Oga at the top' facilitated their release on bail when I inquired at the State CID they told both parties to maintain status quo and come the next day being November 13, 2025.
"Moreso, that same November 12th after they were arrested and granted bail, around 11pm Nkeadi Obi and his cohorts recommenced demolition of my fence threatening to take my life if I come out to stop them.
"I called the ACP of State CID who promised to call them that night to discontinue the demolition.
" I was at the State CID on November 13th throughout the whole day but they never showed up. The police invited the suspects with their Surety to come on the 14th and 15th they refused to show up.
"On the 16th of November they started another demolition on my fence with many youths joining them still threatening that I cannot do anything because their sponsor was backing them to continue that they would terminate my life if I try to stop them. Since then I have been running for my dear life.
"When I perceived that the female ACP handling the case at State CID has been compromised, on the 16th of November, 2025 I went to submit a second petition at Zone 13 Police headquarters Ukpo. I was still at Zone 13 when information came that for the 3rd consecutive time those boys were demolishing my property. Zone 13 Police came to assess the situation but the gang leaders Nkeadi Obi, Chibuike Obi and Chidiebere Obi all ran away. These are my extended cousins from Akpaeli Ilo Okolocha family who are conspiring with outsiders to destroy my building and I.
"I am pleading with His Excellency Prof Charles Soludo to come to my aid. Soludo should come to the aid of Ifitedunu community. Ifitedunu is in bondage. The level of rascality ongoing in Ifitedunu is very high. Nobody has the monopoly of violence or the right to take laws into his hands. You have seen the level of damages done to my property, I don't need a reprisal. Remember, Nobody invited me anywhere or before any constituted authority or court to come and speak for myself before demolishing my property.
"I am also calling on Anambra State House of Assembly, Human Rights crusaders to come to my rescue not just for my sake but for the sake of Ifitedunu. They said they are from APGA party that nothing will happen to them," Benedict Obi pleaded.
Speaking to our reporter, the immediate past Chairman of Okpuloji Kindred, Mr Christopher Iheanacho who handled the land dispute with his kinsmen in 2021 and 2023 confirmed that the land actually belonged to Benedict Obi whose father acquired the land saying that the minute book was still available as an evidence to the judgement where both parties accepted the verdict.
Mr Ifeanacho observed that there was more to the demolition of the property than the issue of graves saying that it could be traced to the Kindred Chairmanship tussle .
Ifeanacho claimed that it was the turn of the Ilo Okolocha family to produce the kindred Chairman but was denied the opportunity which resulted to strifes, factions. Some powers outside the family began to Instigate the three suspects to demolish the property of Benedict Obi because he was the person who was bold enough and stood his ground that justice and equity demands that it was the turn of Ilo Okolocha to produce the Chairman of Okpuloji Kindred.
Also, the duo of Elder Cyril Madunabia and Mrs Theresa Nwafor Akpaka confirmed that the said piece of land belonged to Benedict Obi and that the matter has long been resolved pending whenever Felix Obi and his siblings will show them where the unmarked grave will be traditionally relocated. They also lamented that the suspects had in one way or the other benefitted immensely from the magnanimity of Benedict Obi whom they are now persecuting.
