The People of Umuizundu Village in Umuogele Autonomous Community, Amuda Isuochi in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia state have sent a’ Save Our Soul’ message to the State Government over a gully ravaging the entire Community which is likely to claim over fifteen buildings located near the site after some were earlier consumed by the ugly development.
The Chairman of the Community, Elder Daniel Okoroafor,who made the call while conducting Hanto Daily Newscrew round the areas affected by the gully expressed fears that if nothing was done urgently to check the menace, his people are likely to be cut off from the rest of Abia, lamenting further that their lives, buildings and property were already in danger.
Elder Okoroafor, who was accompanied by the Representattive of the traditional ruler of the Community Eze Edwin Madu and other Stakeholders in the area noted that the erosion menace has already claimed more than two Kilometers of Land with hectares of farm lands and cash crops lost to the disaster.
He observed with concern that the people had in the past embarked on planting of Bamboo, Palm trees and other protective trees along the track without achieving any positive result and made it clear that the situation had gone beyond their control.
The community Leader recalled that the immediate past administration in the state, carried out palliative measures close to the major road, pointing out that the gully has now swept the palliative work.
According to him, if left unchecked, the Umuizundu -Amuda-Mbala-Oji River Roads, the gully will extend and affect the neighbouring Mbala,Achara,Ugwueme ,Ihie among other communities.
Elder Okoroafor who revealed that some Government functionaries have visited the scene for feasibility study of the disaster expressed confidence that the state Government can attract the Federal government or international donor agencies for collaboration in checking the menace.
Speaking, the Traditional Ruler of Umuogele Autonomous Community Eze Edwin Madu represented by Chief Uwalaka Onwuanaku lamented that the erosion recently claimed the lives of two youths of the community and attributed the disaster to channeling of all water ways to the community by the NDDC Contractor who handled the Nkwoagu -Mbala Road in 2017.
Eze Madu described the Umuizundu Community as strategically located as it is connecting many Communities and Towns in the area as well as linking the Clan to the neighboring Enugu state and expressed worry that the situation will scare away business and Investors in the area.
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In their Contributions some Stakeholders in the Community including the Very Rev Godwin Ikechukwu, Elder Joshua Madu and Elder Onuoha Okpara appreciated Abia Governor, Dr Alex Otti for his performance in the areas of road Construction and human development, especially in checking kidnapping in the area and prayed him to give urgent attention to the the rampaging gully.
Correspondents report that more than fifteen residential buildings close to the gully may not survive this rainy season if nothing is done urgently#.
