The Afiesere Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta has given dredgers operating in the community a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the area.

The President-General of Afiesere Community, Mr Richard Ovwreghederhwo disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Ughelli shortly after having a meeting with the dredgers.

He said that the leadership of the community had an emergency meeting with the dredgers on Tuesday to intimate them of their position.

The president-general said that the decision was sequel to the public outcry that had further attracted the attention of the state government to the ugly development.

He said that the activities of the dredgers had endangered some of the government infrastructure in the community.

“As a result of public outcry on dredging activities in the community, the state government has called us to do the needful to avert any danger.

“Now, We look at it critically and say there is no way this regime will allow this to happen.

“Based on that, we decide to invite all the dredgers in Afiesere land and give the seven-day ultimatum to move their equipment out of the land.

“The order from the government is, either we do the needful or take responsibility for any mishap. We will not allow this to happen and there is no going back on the decision,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the dredgers, Dr Anthony Ugbodeme objected the seven-day ultimatum

He contented that the one-week notice is inadequate for the safe removal of dredging equipment, citing significant logistical and financial challenges.

Ugbodeme, however, appealed for one year extension noting that some of them just made payment for the portions they are dredging.

“I want to plead with the leaders of Afiesere Community to extend the time because the one week they give us is too short.

“We rented the land where we are dredging, some of us just made payments to the people whom we rented the land from while some of the rents have not expired,” he said.