The Amaekpu Ohafia community in Ohafia local council of Abia state, has raised the alarm over gully erosion sweeping away homes and farmlands in the area.
Sir Dr. Stephen Ukpai Ohafia, a grassroot politician from the community who led journalists to the area, said the erosion has made residents live in constant fear.
He called for urgent intervention from the government and good-spirited Nigerians to avoid total washing away of the area.
He said, “The community is contending with four massive gullies and a few smaller ones. The erosion is posing big threats to our lives, property and farmlands. Our people cannot build houses or factories because they have lost their lands. Many of them have left their ancestral homes and relocated to other places. We are in real danger and we are calling on the international community and government at all levels to come to our rescue.”
According to him, he decided to visit the site after some Amaekpu youths visited his residence urging him to intervene.
“The youths came to my house after meeting with Nze Uche Ohafia, an illustrious son of the community urging us to intervene. I have assured them that the government would intervene after reaching out to some government officials.”
Speaking on the issue, a resident of the community, Mr. Chijioke Okoro said the erosion has been a recurring incident, adding that all efforts made to control it in the past had failed.
“I call on the Abia state government to relocate the people before they lose their lives and property. Whenever it rains, the way it uproots trees and moves earth sounds like an earthquake and makes us live in fear all the time”.
Also speaking, another resident Mr. Obinna Uma Ocho said the erosion has become a disaster, stressing that it affected economic activities and social development of the community.
Ocho said, “Several government officials and agencies have been visiting but nothing has been done. That is why we are calling on the federal and state government to come to our rescue.”
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