Women from three villages of Amaidi Amanyanwu and Onuzo in Imobi autonomous community of Uturu, Abia State, on Tuesday morning protested around the community, alleging that some individuals from one of the villages are attempting to grab control of granite deposits in their land.
The women who described themselves as farmers, claimed that the traditional ruler of Imobi autonomous community, Eze Simeon Chukwuemeka, is not aware and never authorized such take over.
According to the Imobi women, there will be escalation of poverty in the community if a few individuals are allowed to appropriate the resources belonging to the entire citizens.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Mrs Florence Uka, Mrs Nene Orieji and Uwakwe Nkechi, said that Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, should first be carried out on affected lands to assess and prevent any hazard that may arise from granite drilling and blasting activities.
“If the stones are being drilled, there could be hazards and it will affect us the more. There are those that have cassava, plantain and yam farmlands, and they could be affected economically and health wise if nothing is done now,” Nkechi said.
The women who said they were peaceful in their appeal, begged Governor Alex Otti to intervene on the matter.
The Secretary-General of Imobi Progressive Union, Adindu Kalu, who spoke on behalf of the traditional ruler of Imobi, Eze Simeon Chukwuemeka, appealed to Abia State government to prevent a few individuals from hijacking communal resources.
“Some people went to Abuja and signed a consent letter inviting a company to the community, without the knowledge and consent of the Eze,” he said.
Abia: Women protest alleged hijacking of community resources
