|
Listen to article
|
Indigenes of Amakor village in Nanka, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State have cried to the State Government out over the devastating effect of erosion in their environment and homelands.
Leaders of the village, under the umbrella of Amakor Njikoka Development Union in a press release signed by its chairman and secretary, Mr. Ilo Obinna Daniel and Mr. Patrick Okole respectively which was sent to The Eastern Updates on Thursday accused the traditional ruler and President General of Nanka Community, Igwe Godwin Ezilo and Rev. Can. Ifeanyi Ezike of being behind the excavation of sand in the village.
This outcry comes months after Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo banned sand excavators from the community.
The community said the destruction of their environment through sand mining by the traditional ruler is part of the marginalisation Amakor has faced in the hand of the leadership of Nanka community leaders.
Read Also: Parliamentary Workers In Anambra Halt Indefinite Strike
“We have earlier mounted a gate on the road leading to our village, but the gate was primarily dismantled to facilitate the illegal sand mining going on every night at the Agulu-Nanka-Oko Erosion Site, Amako section.
“It took the mature intervention of the village Chairman – Mr. Obinna llo to calm down the highly provoked people of Amakor when the gates were being destroyed. The illegal sand miners then had uncontrolled accesses to the already devastated stream beach.”
The community said their marginalisation by the leaders of Nanka did not start today. They alleged that because of such marginalisation , they have been stopped from producing the traditional prime minister of the community which was rightfully their turn.
“They have even gone as far as trying to create a parallel leadership in Amakor, using some people who are loyal to them, just so that they can be causing environmental hazard to us through illegal sand mining.
“We therefore, call on the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, to come to our rescue by setting up an independent panel or commission of inquiry to look into our complaints with a view of enforcing the rule of law and protecting the rights of the weak in the society.”
When reporters contacted the President General, Mr Ifeanyi Ezeike, who spoke on behalf of himself and the monarch, he said he had received reports that the illegal sand excavators usually come from neighbouring Oko community.
