Chairman of Ohanivo Grassroots Movement (OGM), Comrade Orji Joseph, has expressed concern over the continuous drowning of indigenes of the community at the Ike River in Amaeke village, Ishiagu community in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State.
Orji who expressed sadness over the flooding of the bridge during rainy seasons said that between 2020 till last year, over five indigenes of the community have drowned in the river while returning from their farmland.
He said the Ike River is in need of construction adding that the bamboo trees used by the community in constructing the bridge usually collapse during rainy season and flooding thereby posing great danger to the rural farmers who use the bridge to access their farmlands.
“During rainfall or rainy season like these farmers within the community always find it difficult to cross the Ike River to cultivate their farmlands and subsequent harvest of their farm produce. The people of Amaeke especially women depend on farm produce to earn a living.
“The social and economic challenges posed by the Ike River are not easy ones as floods from the river always destroy plantations and farmers’ crops, exposing a man who has laboured to be a borrower at the end of the farming seasoning.
“Our aged men and women are always at risk each time they are returning from the farm during the rainy season. The river is always flooded and we have lost about five persons as a result of the collapse of the makeshift bamboo bridge the community constructed to enable members of the community access their farmlands.
“Amaeke Ishiagu has a common boundary with Ndi-Agbor in Enugu State. If the Ike River is motorable, transportation of farm produce will be easier. There will be interstate movement from Ebonyi to Enugu State. Amaeke has the shortest link road to Enugu State.
“Ndi-Agbor and Ndi-nneochele in Enugu State will bring their farm produce for sale in Ishiagu as we depend on each other for survival especially at this critical point of our lives,” he said.
He further noted that there is abundant and quality sand in the river connecting from Enugu State, adding that if the Ike River Bridge is constructed, it will create employment for the youths of Ishiagu and will reduce the high rate of youth engagement in hard drugs and other criminal activities created by idleness and unemployment.
He called on the Ishiagu Community Development Union, ICDU, the chairman of Ivo local government area, Chief Emmanuel Ajah and the state government to come to their aid and construct the Ike River Bridge to save the lives of the rural farmers.
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