By Dennis Agbo

ENUGU — An Igbo socio-cultural group, Oganiru Ndigbo, has demanded from the federal government rapid response to the ecological disasters devastating the south east.

At its meeting in Enugu, weekend, the group challenged the federal government to tackle erosion devastation and other ecological challenges affecting the zone.

National coordinator of the group, Mr. Ugochukwu Agballah and representatives of Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Abia states; including, Rt Hon. Emmanuel Nwobo, Mr. Andy Okoye,

Dr. Amanze Obi and Enyinnaya Imo said: “Igbo Improvement Union (Oganiru Ndi-Imo) expressed serious concern over the ecological devastation of Igboland particularly the erosion menace which is being compounded by over-grazing by Fulani herdsmen, excessive deforestation, bush burning by hunters/farmers and indiscriminate excavation and unregulated building activities by quarries, government contractors amongst other unwholesome ecological activities that destroy the fragile soil structure in Igboland”.

The pressure group called on the Federal Government to quickly establish a commission of inquiry into the alleged extra-judicial killing of 150 Igbo youths by Nigerian security forces as contained in the recent Amnesty International Report.

While condemning the killing and describing it as “inhuman act”, the group warned against sweeping the matter under the carpet, insisting that the perpetrators must be fished out and be made to face appropriate sanctions.

The group noted that in the spirit of self-help for which the zone is noted, it has resolved to plant five million cashew seedlings from 2017 onwards in partnership with communities ravaged by erosion in order to checkmate erosion and also position Igboland as the largest producer of cashew nuts in Nigeria.

It noted that other environmental/ecological hazards in the country like desertification in the North, and crude oil pollution in the Niger Delta have all received national and international attention and redress unlike the erosion menace which is currently ravaging the entire South East and is yet to receive the necessary attention from the Federal Government of Nigeria.