By BONIFACE AKARAH

At least 10 people have allegedly lost their lives in the past decade while dozens of buildings have reportedly been submerged in Umudimisii-Umuoru, Uga, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, following what the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) described as indiscriminate and unregulated sand excavation activities in the area.

In a statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Lead-Director, Intersociety Nigeria; Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Head, Department of Campaign and Publicity; and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head, Department of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, the organisation said the emerging gullies now posed a serious threat to the ancestral homes and properties of an estimated 22,000 sedentary, pastoral and diaspora indigenes of the area.

Intersociety said the environmental degradation had reached a critical stage, with the expanding gullies dangerously approaching the recently completed Obizi-Uga Water Scheme Road in Umudimisii-Umuoru.

“This is to bring the attention of your public office to environmental dangers associated with the above underlined issue and urgent need for your office to look into it, comprehensively resolve it and save the affected area with estimated sedentary, pastoral and diaspora population of 22,000 indigenes and their ancestral homes, inheritances and heritages from being swept off by emerging and menacing gullies and other forms of ecological disaster,” the organisation said.

According to Intersociety, the sand excavation activities had altered the natural topography of the area and contributed to the emergence and expansion of gullies, despite resistance from community leaders and stakeholders.

The organisation said the issue had become so contentious that stopping the excavation was reportedly made an election campaign issue during the recent election of new leaders of the Umudimisii Development Union.

“By our recent findings, incursions into the site by some private persons started in the years gone by; resulting in indiscriminate and unregulated sand excavation activities using an army of youth group and alleged Government links. These have further resulted to serious environmental degradation and defacing of the natural topography of the area,” Intersociety stated.

The group said the Umudimisii Quarter subsequently resolved to stop further excavation at the site in an effort to reclaim the affected area from further erosion and environmental damage.

It said the decision was communicated to the traditional ruler of Uga, HRH Igwe Chidi S. Ezenwugo, the President-General of the Uga Improvement Union and the Chairman of the Umuoru-Uga Village Union, after which the excavation activities were stopped.

Intersociety, however, said the environmental consequences had already become severe, alleging that at least 10 lives had been lost over a period of 10 years through submerged homes and buildings, as well as disputes connected to ownership of the excavation site.

“The human death tolls had arisen from submerges, building collapses and bloody interpersonal disputes or rivalries over ownership of the sand excavation site, among others,” the organisation said.

It further warned that thousands of other residents remained at risk, while the advancing gullies were threatening the road network serving the community.

According to the group, heavy-duty trucks evacuating sand and stones from the site had also damaged linked community roads and placed additional pressure on the Nkwo-Obizi Road and St. James-Ugwunwocha-Obizi Roads recently completed by the Anambra State Government.

Intersociety said the newly constructed roads were facing possible damage from the continued movement of heavy trucks and were themselves dangerously close to the emerging gullies.

The organisation urged the Anambra State Government under the watch of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, and other relevant authorities to conduct an immediate on-the-spot assessment of the area and establish the full extent of the environmental damage.

“Conduct on-the-spot assessment of the site for your first-hand information and findings,” Intersociety demanded.

It also called for a comprehensive investigation into the sand excavation activities and the identities of individuals and groups allegedly involved.

The group urged authorities to prosecute anyone found culpable of unlawful activities and to prevent the area from developing into a centre of youth militancy, banditry or clan-based conflict.

The appeal comes amid previous concerns from residents of Uga that sand excavation was worsening gully erosion and threatening homes and roads in the community.