Bayelsa community deserted over erosion menace

Several residents of Ogbogoro community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have started packing out of their homes following massive coastal erosion in the area.

The inhabitants were seeing on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, abandoning their houses to seek shelter elsewhere and escape from the natural disaster, which has destroyed schools and churches, and taken over empty plots of land.

It was gathered that the gully erosion was caused by the rising level of the Ekoli River and was fast eating up the community and submerging everything on its way.

Among some public buildings washed away by flood water are the St. Paul Primary School and the National Youth Service Corps lodge.

The absence of power supply has further compounded the woes of the residents, with the community plunged into darkness for over two years.

The paramount ruler of Ogbogoro community, Monday Igodo, said the residents had lost their sources of livelihood as their farmlands and crops had been washed off.

“We have lost farmlands; our crops have been consumed and our community is in dire straits. Our survival is a major concern,” he stated.

Another resident, Wisdom Wenipere, said he was traumatised because he had lost his home to erosion and he currently had no place to stay.

The residents called on the federal and state governments to come to their rescue and save them from the threat of erosion.