ST SILAS ANGLICAN CHURCH, AMAWIRE URATTA AND ENVIRONS UNDER DEMOLITION THREAT.
-- Victims send SOS to Bishop Oparah to intervene.
By Rev Canon Ben Durueke(Parish Vicar)
The Church Parishioners of St Silas Anglican church, Amawire Uratta, Owerri Diocese and residents in the area have appealed to the Bishop, Owerri Diocese, The Rt Rev Oparah to come to their rescue as the area is under threat of demolition by OCDA.
As it is now, the residents sleep with their two eyes open following an order by the Imo State Government, through the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) for them to vacate the church and homes or face demolition.
Some of them have lived in the community for decades and are deeply distressed and uncertain about their future as their homes and properties now face the threat of demolition hence the appeal to the Bishop to intervene and prevail upon the Government to reconsider the proposed exercise and explore a just, humane and peaceful solution that will protect both development and the legitimate interests of the would be affected residents.
On Saturday, 8 August 2026, the Anglican Bishop of Owerri Diocese, the Rt Revd Chukwuma Oparah, PhD, JP, out of his busy schedule came to see for himself and was visibly touched as he inspected the proposed demolition sites by the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) at Amawire Uratta Estate.
Hundreds of buildings have been marked for demolition in the area and many members of the congregation at St Silas Anglican Church, Amawire, who would be affected cried to the Bishop, pleading with him to prevail upon the Government of Imo State, led by Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, to reconsider the proposed exercise, which they believe would unleash untold hardship, suffering and misery on them.
Again, on Monday, 3 August, and Wednesday, 5 August 2026, the officials came in the neighbourhood and marked many structures for demolition. They came with heavily armed security personnel.
As they marked the homes, they were telling the people that the area would be used for a power line and that residents have only seven working days to vacate the entire vicinity.
All entreaties failed as the officials even immediately commenced construction work on the foundation for the proposed power-line infrastructure, thereby raising further concerns among residents that the planned project was already being implemented despite the ongoing objections and appeals from the affected community.
Definitely, if the proposed power-line corridor proceeds as planned, it will potentially result in the demolition of homes, buildings and other structures within the area including St Silas Anglican Church, Amawire, the old and new Parsonages as well as the boys' quarters.
At the peak of the confusion, a team the victims had sent out to go and investigate, discovered that the area was not originally earmarked for a power line.
The area doesn't situate on a green verge and was not even acquired by the Government from the original owners at any time, according to the residents.
Many of the buildings there have existed for more than 30 years plus just as Amawire already has an existing transmission powerline( hence the ancient name "Amawire")
It is deeply worrisome if we recall that the Government officials who visited the area on those two days were shooting into the air, sending a clear message of intimidation, even though no one harassed or threatened them", a victim lamented.
Speaking during his inspection of the area, Bishop Chukwuma Oparah recalled that one of the laudable and important decisions taken by Gov. Hope Uzodinma upon assuming office was the establishment of a panel of enquiry to investigate cases involving lands allegedly taken illegally and reallocated to political goons and cronies.
The Bishop believed that the era of using force to take land from poor people and hand it over to the rich and powerful should have been over and then called on the Governor to do everything within his power to ensure that the people of Imo State are not subjected to unjust suffering and misery through unpopular actions.
The Prelate also asked the residents he met during his visit to speak freely, assuring them that their voices mattered and that they were important.
Speaking also during the inspection visit, Hon. Emeka Nwachukwu who had lived in the area for more than 30 years insisted that the area had never been earmarked for a power line before.
He told the Bishop that some residents had slumped and died after seeing the demolition markings on their buildings, apparently overwhelmed by the fear and shock of what was about to happen to their homes, means of livelihood and properties.
Hon Emeka argued that development should be people-oriented and not anti-people, stressing that billions of naira could be lost through the demolition exercise, including the incalculable human cost that could result from displacing hundreds of families.
Lending his voice, Dr Mmaduabuchi Anozie, an environmental expert, said he believed that the Government of Imo State was a listening government, but argued that a government that has the best interests of its citizens at heart should give them at least one or two years for proper resettlement planning and engage meaningfully with the affected residents.
He argued that if it were the World Bank that wanted to undertake this project, it would follow a very different approach as the World Bank would ensure that the affected residents were satisfactorily, justly and respectfully resettled, to the extent that they would be provided with alternative accommodation and facilities they might even prefer to their former homes and environment.
He said that the Government is expected to follow due process, procedure and protocol in resettling its citizens and cannot simply wake up one morning and order everyone to vacate their homes within seven working days.
According to him, "we are not animals; we are not birds to be treated with such disdain and disrepute. We are calling on the Government to check the original plan of this area, and find out that the place was not in the original plan as a power-line corridor.”
Another resident lamented, "now, our worry is that Amawire already has a massive 330kV high-tension National Grid transmission line passing through the area, why demolish hundreds of homes and displace families in an area where a major power transmission line already exists"?
After listening to the residents, the Bishop said he had come uninvited to see things for himself and assured he had contacted some high-ranking individuals in government and promised that he would get in touch with the Governor immediately to draw his attention to the plight of the people.
He thanked the residents for remaining law-abiding and for refusing to take the law into their own hands stating that the Church welcomed social development but such development should be pursued in a manner that takes the welfare and legitimate interests of the people into consideration.