Elderly men, women, and youths of Uzuakoli in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest over the destruction of their houses, farmlands by gully erosion.
The protesters said agriculture, their only means of survival, is on the verge of collapse as erosion has washed away their homes and farmlands, leaving them with no land for cultivation.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We have lost our future due to gully erosion,” “Please Government Help Us,” “Our Food Security is Facing Serious Challenge,” and “SSG Please Respond Through Ecological Funds,” they lamented that the Amewu and Dodds gully erosion sites are gradually washing Uzuakoli away.
They said as an agrarian community, it has become difficult to grow food and align with the food security plans of the Abia State Government.
The community also decried the destruction of a two-storey building, encroachment on farmlands, and the cutting off of farm roads by the erosion. They said their pains have become unbearable.
The protesters appealed to Governor Alex Otti to urgently come to their aid to save lives and property, noting that their hope of survival is slim due to the ravaging effects of the two gully sites.
The President General of Eluama, Uzuakoli, Onyebinma Sunday Onyebinma, who addressed newsmen, said those affected have relocated to safer areas or to the township where they have families. He questioned how long they would remain away from their homes and appealed to the state government to intervene to save Uzuakoli.
One of the victims, Mrs. Chisasa Okwu Onyeanusi, who could not hold back her tears, said she had lost everything including her house to the gully erosion. She appealed to Governor Otti to come to their rescue as they have nowhere else to go.
Other victims, including Okey Nwokechukwu Nwosu, Etuwa Onyeanusi, and Nwadims Joy, made similar appeals for government intervention.
Newsbuka reports that five villages in Uzuakoli affected by the gully erosion are: Amamba, Ngwu, Amankwo, Agbozu, and Eluama while more than seven buildings have so far been lost to the gullies.
Meanwhile, when Newsbuka reached out to the House Committee Chairman on Environment and member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Kalu Mba-Nwoke, on what the House is doing to address the issue, he replied via text:
“We are sitting currently, I will revert to you after we have adjourned.”
Newsbuka will publish the response of the lawmaker in subsequent publications.
