Disturbed by a gully erosion in Amakohia autonomous community in Ikeduru local government area of Imo State, the traditional ruler, Eze Innocent Alaribe, has called on the federal government to quickly intervene and save his people from the menace.
Eze Alaribe lamented that over 50 families had been rendered homeless including himself as the erosion had taken over their properties including his palace.
The monarch, who made the call in Owerri, the state capital, said the people had abandoned their homes including the palace for safety adding that already they have been disconnected from neighbouring communities which has made cost of living high.
He said, “If I want to visit my palace, I will park my vehicle at a long distance and trek to the place. My subjects are afraid of even coming there, we have cried out severely to government but nothing has happened, but we will continue to appeal to them to come to our rescue.”
On his part, the president-general of the community, Goddie Ukwu, who took newsmen to the erosion scenes, lamented that the natural disaster had forced many people to desert their ancestral homes because the community had become disconnected from neighbouring communities which has resulted in high cost of goods and services especially transportation.
Ukwu said, “We are going through hell in my community right now, many homes are now abandoned because of erosion, as the depth of the erosion can engulf a two story building. Already three buildings have caved in and my people are now living outside their homes.
“The road is no longer motorable, before we go in and out of here, it’s like a merry go round, commercial motorcyclists will take you through bush parts that will scare you especially as a visitor as you may think they want to kidnap you.
"Daily, our school is losing students because parents are afraid to enroll their children because it is very
close to the erosion site. Look at the airport, it’s very close to us from here yet very far because of the
erosion that has divided us with our neighbouring communities, we appeal to the various governments
once more to help us, this is beyond us,” Ukwu said.
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