By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the ongoing media trial, cyberbullying, and alleged torture of Enugu-based estate developer, Mr. Kingsley Nebo, urging the Nigeria Police Force and relevant authorities to ensure fairness, transparency, and protection of human rights in the ongoing investigation into the Etiti Ngwo land dispute.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, HURIWA described Nebo as a legitimate businessman who lawfully acquired landed property from the Etiti Ngwo community but has since been subjected to inhumane treatment, orchestrated framing, and online defamation allegedly instigated by some influential individuals within the community. The rights group said it received a detailed petition from Nebo outlining a disturbing pattern of intimidation, abduction, and physical assault by some community leaders seeking to reclaim land he had lawfully purchased.

“According to the petition, Nebo was abducted and tortured for two weeks by operatives at the SWAT office in Enugu before being forced to sign a pre-written confession under duress. He alleged that some community leaders participated in the physical torture, video-recorded the assault, and later circulated the clips on social media to smear his name. Following a comprehensive investigation, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department (FID), DIG Nebolisa Benjamin Okolo, reportedly exonerated him and ordered his release,” HURIWA disclosed.

Despite this, HURIWA lamented that a deliberate campaign of calumny continues against Nebo, with unverified and one-sided narratives being circulated online to mislead the public and manipulate perceptions. The group strongly condemned the social media trial and called for an immediate end to the cyberbullying and defamation of Nebo’s character, describing the act as a violation of his constitutional rights.

“We condemn in unequivocal terms the media trial being orchestrated against Mr. Kingsley Nebo. Those disseminating falsehoods about an active investigation must desist immediately. This reckless cyberbullying not only endangers the life of an innocent man but also undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system,” HURIWA warned.

The Association further appealed to the Etiti Ngwo community to refrain from prejudicial commentary and allow the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja, which is handling the case, to conclude its investigation without external influence. HURIWA also commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for banning police involvement in land-related matters, describing it as a “proactive and commendable step toward curbing abuses of office.”

The rights group, however, expressed concern over emerging allegations that some officials in the Enugu State Government are attempting to deploy forest guards to take over disputed lands in parts of the state, including Obeagu and Etiti Ngwo communities. HURIWA warned that such actions are unconstitutional, especially when court proceedings are ongoing over ownership rights.

“It is deeply troubling that reports indicate some elements within the Enugu State Government are plotting to use forest guards to take control of lands that are still under legal dispute. If true, this represents a direct affront to the rule of law and due process. The government must not deploy any coercive apparatus in civil disputes, particularly where ownership claims are before the court,” HURIWA cautioned.

The Association drew attention to another petition involving the Obeagu community, which alleged a coordinated land-grabbing attempt by certain Enugu State officials. According to the petition, these officials have made repeated efforts to forcefully acquire community lands under the guise of public development, a move HURIWA described as “a gross abuse of power and a threat to the peace and property rights of indigenous people.”

Obeagu community petitions Mbah, IGP over ECTDA’s alleged plan to takeover ancestral land:

Fresh tension is brewing in Enugu South Local Government Area as the people of Obeagu Awkunanaw Community have raised alarm over alleged plans to forcefully take over their ancestral land and renewed markings on their buildings by officials said to be from the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).

In separate petitions to Governor Peter Mbah, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Chairman of ECTDA, the community alleged a “renewed plot” to unleash mayhem and resume demolitions reminiscent of what they described as “the massive destruction and misery” of January 2024.

The petitions were jointly signed by Hon. Mike Ogbonna, President General; Reuben N. Okafor, Secretary General; and Chief Christian Egbo, Traditional Prime Minister of Obeagu Community.

In a strongly worded protest letter dated October 6, 2025, and addressed to the ECTDA Chairman, the community expressed shock over what they called “a worrisome development” involving unidentified persons who claimed to be officials from the authority and allegedly marked several structures in the area for removal.

“We were shocked, to say the least, when we observed a handful of persons who, without proper identification but upon our prodding later identified themselves as officials from your office, were sent to mark some of our structures for removal,” the community wrote.

“While we hope this is not a prelude to another round of demolition akin to the massive destruction and misery caused us by the very act of last year (2024), we still tenaciously hold the view that you acted deliberately to frustrate and render nugatory the prosecution of our pending suits,” the letter added.

The community reminded the ECTDA Chairman of pending court cases relating to the disputed land, particularly Suit No. E/1081/2019 and E/263/2020, both of which, they said, remain unresolved.

“Given all the processes and documents herein brought to your attention, you are now properly guided and well equipped to resist the temptation of taking further action or steps which are clearly subjudice and patently lawless,” the letter further read.

In another petition dated October 5, 2025, addressed to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the community raised what they described as an “S.O.S.” over alleged plans by the Commander of the Enugu State Forest Guard, retired DCP Olasoji Akinbayo, to deploy his men for a “forceful takeover” of their communal land in concert with “vicious land grabbers.”

“We alert Your Excellency to an information at our disposal to the effect that the Commander of the Enugu State Forest Guard, retired DCP Olasoji Akinbayo, acting in concert with some vicious land grabbers who are his friends, is allegedly mustering about four units of Forest Guard members under his command to invade our communal/ancestral land,” the petition stated.

The community accused the former police officer of having a long history of “victimization and brutalization” against them during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Enugu State Command.

“Our community was visibly placed under siege as the said retired DCP Olasoji, at the behest of his paymasters, the land grabbers, used truckloads of police officers to garrison our community, arresting and hurriedly arraigning some hapless members on trumped-up charges. Funnily, none of the charges was sustained in court,” the letter read.

While praising Governor Mbah for his “top-notch infrastructural and developmental strides,” the community urged him to investigate the alleged plot and call the Forest Guard Commander to order to avert what they described as “a looming breakdown of law and order.”

“Act fast, Sir, to avert any breakdown of law and order. A stitch in time saves nine,” they urged the governor.

Similarly, in a separate petition to the Inspector General of Police, also dated October 5, 2025, and copied to the AIG, FCID Annex, Enugu, the community expressed fears that retired DCP Olasoji was planning to use the Forest Guard as a substitute for the police to achieve his alleged objectives, following the IGP’s recent directive warning officers against involvement in land disputes.

“It is easy to discern that resort to the members of the Forest Guard by retired DCP Olasoji and his co-conspirators is certainly as a result of your stern warning to members of the Police Force against interference in land matters,” the petition read.

“We strongly believe the source of information about this pending attack against our community as it were, by retired DCP Olasoji, to be reliable, credible and actionable,” it added.

As of the time of filing this report, none of the accused parties, the ECTDA, the Forest Guard Commander, or the Enugu State Government, had officially responded to the allegations.

Meanwhile, in connection with the July 12, 2025, violent incident at Agu Ovollo Layout, Etiti Ngwo, where a youth, Mr. Sochima Onoh, was tragically shot dead during a clash between youths from Etiti Ngwo and Atakwu communities, the community leadership has accused Nebo of sponsoring the attack. They alleged he financed and facilitated the ambush through insider information. The Etiti Ngwo community appealed to the public to assist law enforcement in apprehending suspects still at large.

While acknowledging the grief of the deceased’s family, HURIWA reiterated that such grave allegations must be handled through lawful investigation and not public defamation. The group emphasized that justice must not be perverted by mob narratives or political manipulation.

“The sanctity of human life and the rule of law must be upheld at all times. While justice should be served for the deceased, it must never come at the expense of truth or fairness. Innocent people must not be sacrificed on the altar of vengeance or politics,” HURIWA concluded.