The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Enugu State Government to institute an independent, transparent and rights-compliant inquiry into the protracted crisis rocking Agunese-Mmaku Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.
In an open letter addressed to Governor Peter Mbah, RULAAC Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, expressed concern over what he described as “serious rule of law and human rights issues” arising from the lingering communal dispute.
According to Nwanguma, available media reports, petitions, and representations spanning several years indicate that the crisis is “fundamentally communal in nature,” stemming from disputes over traditional authority, town union leadership and the exercise of local power.
“As documented as far back as 2021–2022 in national newspapers, these disagreements escalated into protests, counter-allegations, and sustained involvement of security agencies,” he said.
RULAAC raised alarm over recurring allegations that accusations of involvement in proscribed or violent groups were levelled against some community members during the disputes, leading to repeated interventions by law enforcement agencies.
“RULAAC makes no findings as to the truth or falsity of these allegations,” Nwanguma noted. “However, their repeated invocation, and the consequences that reportedly followed, raise legitimate concerns about possible abuse of legal and security processes, selective enforcement, and violations of fundamental rights.”
The rights group said concerns have been further heightened by the recent controversy surrounding the death of a 19-year-old, Nnamdi Chidi, noting that conflicting accounts exist over the circumstances of his death and subsequent investigations.
“Sharply conflicting and mutually exclusive accounts now exist regarding the cause and circumstances of the young man’s death, the nature and outcome of police investigations, the existence of any medical or autopsy reports, and the roles played by different units of the Nigeria Police Force,” Nwanguma stated.
He warned that the contradictions, combined with a history of intra-community disputes and competing petitions to security agencies, have “severely strained” public confidence in investigative and justice processes.
“This matter has now transcended local disagreements,” Nwanguma said. “It raises broader issues about the protection of the right to life, due process guarantees, the accountability of security agencies, and the responsibility of the state to prevent communal conflicts from degenerating into cycles of repression, impunity, or violence.”
RULAAC reminded the state government of its obligations under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to ensure independent and professional investigations into serious crimes, prevent unlawful arrests and intimidation, and ensure that security agencies are not perceived as tools in communal or political disputes.
The organisation urged Governor Mbah to order an independent and impartial inquiry into the Agunese-Mmaku crisis, ensure transparency around all investigations, protect witnesses and affected families, review the conduct of security agencies involved, and facilitate inclusive, lawful mechanisms to restore peace and accountable community governance.
“This intervention is sought without prejudice to any individual or group and without assuming the guilt or innocence of any party,” Nwanguma said. “Our sole interest is the preservation of the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the restoration of public confidence in state institutions.”
RULAAC said it expects the Enugu State Government to treat the matter “with the urgency and seriousness it deserves, in the best interests of justice, peace, and the people of Enugu State.”
