Residents of Amazi village in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State, have staged protests against sand excavation activities they claim are endangering their only access road, farmlands, and homes. The community accuses a contractor allegedly tied to the state government of operating a borrow pit perilously close to their crumbling thoroughfare, raising fears of landslides and severe erosion as the rainy season approaches.
Villagers say repeated appeals to Ehime Mbano LGA Chairman Francis Uche Nwodu have gone unanswered, prompting calls for Governor Hope Uzodimma’s urgent intervention. “We lack basic infrastructure, and now our land and safety are under threat,” said elder Nze Lucius Nnorom, revealing that a delegation from Umunakanu Ancient Kingdom had petitioned the local council to halt the project, citing risks to security and livelihoods.
Resident Engr. Uche Okafor condemned the excavation as an “unsolicited invasion of our ancestral land,” warning of irreversible ecological damage. Protesters, including diaspora members, displayed placards demanding road repairs, potable water, and electricity—amenities they note neighboring communities already enjoy.
Amazi residents vow continued advocacy until authorities address their dual plight: infrastructural neglect and environmental peril.
