Residents of Trinity Christain Church Road, Akwakuma, in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, have raised alarm over the vicious erosion menace in their community, following incessant rainfall last week.
HumAngle reports that the community on the outskirts of Owerri, the Imo State capital, is home to workers and business people who commute daily to their places of work and business to earn a living.
Following the erosion, access roads to the area has collapsed with human and vehicular movement impeded and buildings threatened to fall.
Following years of neglect, the residents had resorted to self-help by constructing drains and reinforcements which the recent incident washed away.
As a result of the erosion which cut the street, residents are trapped inside their homes, including two storey buildings on which have been outrightly cut off and the occupants not able to leave.
The occupants of the buildings now live in fear that the structures might collapse if the erosion was not controlled.
A resident, Mr Ezenwa Nwadike, said the situation became worse this year despite efforts by landlords of the two buildings and the neighborhood association to control it.
Nwadike said that the community had spent over 1.5 million on control measures, including erecting pillars which were washed away by the recent flood.
He appealed to the government of Imo State and relevant agencies to come quickly to the aid of the people.
A caretaker of a hotel in the area, Mr Boniface Anyaogu, said erosion had been giving people living in the area great concern.
He said the state commissioner for Environment visited the area few months ago but nothing had been done to alleviate the problem.
He expressed fear that if nothing was done quickly, the situation might lead to residents losing their lives and property.
“The erosion is so vicious that it is trying to eject people from their homes and might destroy lives and properties.
“People cannot come out again, they either go through the backyard or through bushes, some of them have vehicles but they cannot drive in and out, ” Anyaogu said.
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