62-Year-Old Widow Seeks Abia First Lady’s Intervention Over Alleged Forced Eviction

A 62-year-old widow, Mrs. Nkechinyere Ndukwe, has appealed to the wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, to intervene in an alleged attempt to forcefully evict her from her property in Umuahia.

The appeal was conveyed in a petition by the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Umuahia Branch, on behalf of the widow.

Mrs. Ndukwe, a retired headmistress, said individuals have been laying claim to her property located at Plot 62, Mission Hill formerly known as Novotel Hotel insisting they purchased it.

She, however, denied the claim, stating that the property is jointly owned by her and her children and could not have been sold without her consent.

According to her, the individuals have been pressuring her to sign documents suggesting she sold the property, which she has refused.

The petition further alleged that the situation escalated in January 2026 when suspected hoodlums reportedly invaded the premises, vandalising the building and carting away valuables.

The attackers were said to have destroyed parts of the structure, including the fence, gates, windows, and doors, while also stripping electrical installations and cutting off power supply.

The NBA Human Rights Committee claimed the widow has since been subjected to intimidation, including repeated summons to police stations and continued threats of demolition.

A visit to the property reportedly confirmed extensive damage, with parts of the building de-roofed and left exposed, raising concerns about the safety of the widow and her family.

The rights group warned that the alleged perpetrators have threatened to return with bulldozers to completely demolish the residence and forcefully eject the occupant.

Describing the situation as dire, the committee said the widow, who is said to be in fragile health, has no alternative accommodation and is in urgent need of protection.

The group urged Mrs. Otti to use her influence to ensure justice and prevent what it described as a looming humanitarian crisis, noting that previous complaints to the police had not yielded results