Imo Community Raises Alarm Over Dredging, Warns of Environmental Damage and Possible Protest

Residents and indigenes of Iriamogu Village in Dindi-Ihiagwa Autonomous Community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, have appealed to Governor Hope Uzodinma to urgently halt alleged harmful dredging activities along the Otammiri River waterfront.

The community said the ongoing operations have caused serious environmental degradation, with residents warning that the situation could threaten lives, damage farmlands and roads, and expose electricity infrastructure in the area to danger.

Speaking to journalists and members of a civil society organisation, the President-General of Iriamogu Development Union, Joseph Oforegbu, described the alleged level of destruction as unacceptable. He accused dredging operators of causing extensive damage to the community and warned that residents could be forced to protest if the activities continue.

Oforegbu said community elders had been restraining youths from confronting the dredgers while awaiting government intervention. He, however, expressed concern that growing frustration among young people could become difficult to contain if authorities fail to act.

The community identified a company known as Marine Dredging Company as allegedly responsible for the dredging activities. Oforegbu claimed that parts of the community’s land and roads had been affected, while farmlands and other properties had also suffered damage.

Another community leader, Christian Mbawuike, said repeated efforts to engage the company over the alleged environmental impact had not produced any meaningful result. He further alleged that security agencies had been used to intimidate residents instead of addressing their concerns.

Mbawuike also claimed that the dredging operation had continued despite an alleged state government restriction on dredging within an 18-kilometre radius of Owerri, a zone he said covers Iriamogu and other parts of Ihiagwa. He recalled that the state Ministry of Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals had previously blocked the access road to the dredging site to stop trucks from entering, but said the measure had failed to end the activity.

The community leaders are now calling on Governor Uzodinma and relevant government agencies to intervene before the dispute escalates. They warned that failure to address the alleged environmental damage could lead to a physical confrontation between residents and the dredging company