Agunese Community Protests Against Monarch's Abuse of Power

On October 2, 2026, residents of Agunese Mmaku Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State, protested at the Government House, demanding intervention from Governor Peter Mbah regarding alleged harassment and intimidation by their traditional ruler, HRH Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi. The protesters, led by Legal Adviser Vincent Okafor, accused Nevobasi of interfering in town union affairs and using his influence to intimidate community members.

They called for his suspension pending an investigation into these allegations. The community claimed that the crisis surrounding the traditional stool has persisted for over two decades, resulting in deaths and disputes.

They cited incidents involving the deaths of Chief Festus Akpu and Chidiebere Ogbonna. The protesters alleged that the situation worsened in 2021 with the formation of the Agunese Way Forward Initiative, which aimed to address community issues.

They reported that a town union election was disrupted by Nevobasi and that several community members were arrested based on unfounded allegations. The latest incident occurred on September 18, 2026.