Mrs. Mmesoma Odili, a pregnant woman from Umuosiegbo village, Umunya, Anambra State, suffered a devastating loss when she miscarried during her eight-day detention at Zone 13 Police headquarters, Ukpo. The arrest was made in connection with a land dispute in the area.
The arrest of Mrs. Mmesoma Odili, who was detained due to her husband’s unavailability, has caused distress and concern in the community. The dispute over land has created tensions among residents, leading to calls for intervention from Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo and other stakeholders in the state.
According to Mr. Jude Ikeanyionwu, a community member, the disagreement centers around the attempted sale of communal land by certain elders, which has been met with resistance by individuals like Mmesoma’s husband, who is a member of the community’s vigilante group.
When the police were unable to locate Mmesoma’s husband, they arrested her instead. Tragically, during her time in custody, she suffered a miscarriage, resulting in the loss of her three-month pregnancy. The police released her when her health deteriorated significantly.
The situation in the community has escalated, with the individuals attempting to forcibly sell the land allegedly using police from Abuja to intimidate residents. As a result, many men in the village no longer feel safe sleeping in their own homes for fear of arrest.
The community emphasizes that they have no other land available and had already reached a decision to distribute the communal land among various families. The actions of those trying to sell the land against the wishes of the community have caused significant distress and concern.
Efforts are now being made to seek intervention and resolution to prevent further loss of lives and restore peace in the community.
Pregnant Woman’s Miscarriage in Police Custody Sparks Outrage Over Land Dispute
