By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—THE traditional ruler of the granite and stone rich Lokpaukwu Umuchieze community in Umunneochi Council Area of Abia State, Eze Magnus Nwafor, has raised the alarm over threat to peace in his community, following the alleged disobedience of Court Order by a company operating a quarry in the community.

Ikpeazu

According to him, the current fragile peace in the community was made possible because of his constant appeal to the agitating youths, who have been spoiling for war over the alleged continued mining of stones from the area by the firm despite the Court Order stopping same.

The bone of contention is the Aguokeakpu stone and granite rich land owned by 35 families of Amaubiri/Umutu villages.

According to Eze Nwafor, in June 2015, the land owners were divided on which company to lease the land to for the purpose of quarrying stone.

Two companies, Asphalt Unity Construction Limited and Pioneer Sinochino Investment Venture Limited applied for the lease.

Since there was no unanimous agreement by the landowners on the company to lease the land to, they decided to do it by election.

At the election, conducted by a lawyer amidst tight security, 28 out of the 35 landlords voted for Asphalt Unity Construction Limited, a Lebanese firm, while seven voted for Pioneer Sinochino Investment Venture Limited, a Chinese firm.

A Memorandum of Understanding MoU, was prepared and signed by the monarchs of the Amaubiri and Umutu, Eze Magnus Nwafor; Eze Oliver Okoli, the Chairman and Secretary of the landlords, and the youth leader.

However, the minority seven landlords were said to have disagreed and insisted that the Chinese firm be given the lease and indeed allegedly, with the aid some policemen, encouraged the company to move into the site despite the MoU already entered into with the company that won the lease at the election.

They claimed that one of the monarchs, Okoli, who signed the MoU also allegedly joined the seven landlords to renege on the agreement, an action the AIG zone 9 was said to have rebuked him for.

The monarch, Eze Nwafor, Chairman of the 35 landowners of the disputed quarry site, Mr. Isaac Okpara, and the Woman and Youth leaders, Mrs. Eunice Nwafor and Samuel Chukwuagozie, respectively, confirmed that they were the people restraining the youths from attacking the Chinese firm, which could cause a break down of law and order in the community.