Erosion gulps Bayelsa Community, Ogbogoro, residents flee to other communities

There was a palpable tension in Obogoro community situated along the Ikoli River in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Wednesday, as they woke up with sounds of erosion.

The residents while packing their valuable, called the attention of both the Federal and State Governments to come to their aid as their community is being threatened by erosion that is gradually pushing them to the brink of extinction.

Scores of Residents are now abandoning their homes no thanks to a ravaging coastal erosion in the area.

Some inhabitants of the community could be seen packing hurriedly from their houses as the rampaging natural phenomenon has encroached on buildings such as houses, churches, schools and other open lands.

The water from the Epie Creek is showing no mercy as it submerges everything within its way, eating deep into the community.

With many persons already displaced, the people have over the years cried out for help from the state and federal authorities without getting any positive response.

Abandoned to their fate, they are now leaving their homes in droves, seeking shelter and refuge outside Ogbogoro community.

A Journalist residing in the area raised alarm that several houses including hers is now under threat of being consumed by the coastal erosion

A call through to the Ebenibe of Epie/Atissa clan, HRM, King Godwin Igodo, and former Chairman of Bayelsa traditional council said, he is not surprised at what is happening, because it’s a yearly thing.

He said, ” We are not surprised at the natural occurence, we live at the bank of the Ekoli River and the place is always affected by seasonal flood. Every year, from June to October, this ugly incident continues.

Right now, our primary school is seriously affected. We have lost the NYSC Lodge to erosion. The NYSC lodge that was very far from the bank of the river is now at the bank, basically eroded.

“Some of these environmental problems are natural while some are man-made. Our own is natural, it has been there and we have written to the Federal Government and interventionist agencies to come to our aid, but nothing has been done’

Some of the affected residents, called on federal and state governments to save their ancestral land from extinction.

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