August 03, (THEWILL) – Five buildings and other property in Obogoro Town in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have submerged into the Ikoli River following a landslide arising from coastal erosion.
The incident, which took place late Saturday night to the early hours of Sunday, has displaced several residents as scores moved families and belongings from the ravaging natural disaster.
Residents are appealing to the Bayelsa State Government and Federal Government to urgently come to their rescue and tackle the menace.
Ada Gwegwe, a frontline activist in the “Save Obogoro Campaign” said the rampaging waters from the river is threatening the entire town as residents abandoned their homes, no thanks to the ravaging coastal erosion in the area.
A Journalist, Eunice Nnachi, explained that a year after a similar incident happened with all the promises of action from relevant authorities, nothing significant had been done, leaving the residents in palpable fear.
In May this year, Governor Douye Diri, after inspecting the Saint John’s Primary School, Obogoro, which had been washed off by the erosion, directed the Commissioners for Works and Infrastructure and that of Environment to canalise the river at Obogoro community in other to salvage the situation.
A Chief at Obogoro, Chief Richard Somkume, is appealing to the authorities to expedite action to save the community from going into extinction.
Secretary of Obogoro Community, Mr. Pulu Yogoi, stated that as the peak of the rainy season approaches with an impending flood, there is a looming danger if nothing is done urgently.
Obogoro had in the recent past experienced several landslides that made the National Youth Service Corps members’ lodge, the community primary school, including the Headmaster’s Quarters, football field and several classrooms washed into the Ikoli Rrver by the erosion.
Farmlands with crops worth millions of naira have not been spared and the economic livelihood of the people has also been lost to the menace.
The Saint Paul’s Primary School, located in Famgbe, a neighbouring community, that would have served as an alternative for pupils, has long been washed into the river with children from Obogoro forced to travel far to acquire basic education.
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