The traditional ruler of Amakohia autonomous community in Imo State, Eze Innocent Alaribe, has voiced concerns over the escalating threat of gully erosion affecting all villages within his domain. Addressing journalists, the monarch revealed that the perilous situation had displaced over 50 community members, including himself, as his palace was abandoned by cabinet chiefs and family due to the erosion’s impact.
Expressing urgency, Eze Alaribe drew attention to the dire circumstances during his call to the Federal Government for assistance. He highlighted the challenges faced in accessing his palace, emphasizing the need for intervention to mitigate the ongoing crisis. The erosion’s devastating effects were further underscored by the President-General of the community, Goddie Ukwu, who lamented the mass desertion of ancestral homes, isolating the community from neighboring areas and inflating transportation costs.
Ukwu emphasized the severity of the situation, revealing that the erosion had caused the collapse of three buildings, rendered the road impassable, and disrupted daily life for residents. The community leader appealed to government agencies for urgent support, acknowledging that the menace had surpassed their local capabilities.
The erosion’s impact on essential services, such as education, was highlighted, with the local school losing students as parents feared enrolling their children in proximity to the erosion site.
IMAGE: The Vanguard
