In the wake of the ravaging flood that claimed the lives of two children of Pastor Godday Okwuokenye along Uromi junction area on Thursday, June 20, 2019, the residents of Alibioba community have again called on the government to be proactive in tackling the menace of the gully erosion behind Agbor Technical College in Ika South LGA, Delta State. SEE ALSO:
The residents, who described the road as a death trap, expressed fear that the erosion, if left unattended to, would soon spread to the neighboring environment. This, they said, taking into cognizance the onset of the rainy season with its concomitant effects and the fact that pedestrians and school children (students of Agbor Technical College and pupils of Alibioba primary school) are using the road.
Speaking with Ika Weekly, reporter on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 the Chairman of Uromi Road, Mr. Okoh Wilson called on the government to quickly come to their aid to avoid a repeat of the ugly incident that claimed the lives of two children.
Speaking further, he said “For long now, we have been begging the government to help us do the same thing about this road and Dr. Wilfred Okoh road. Sometime last year and early this year, we met the Ika South Local Government Chairman and the councilor of this ward about the road, they told us they would do something about it but we have not heard from any of them. If they can remember us and help us reconstruct one of the roads, we will be happy.”
He however, advised parents and guardians to be cautious of the whereabouts of their children especially during this rainy season. SEE ALSO: DANGOTE TRUCK BURNT TO ASHES IN AGBOR
Meanwhile, during a condolence visit of Ika Weekly reporter to the bereaved family of Pastor Okwuokenye, the distraught Pastor described the road as horrible stressing that the road should be declared “emergency zone” by the government at all levels because of the nature of the gully erosion.
According to him, “After losing my two children to the flood, it will be very bad if such incident is repeated for the second time. That road is horrible, it is not pleasant to behold. As rain keeps falling, the gully erosion is widening everyday and it is threats to residents that are living around there. It should be declared emergency zone by State, Federal government and foreign agency”.
Speaking also, Mrs Alaza Evelyn, one of the residents noted that some people have fallen into the gully erosion in a bid to cross to the other side of the road using a locally made bridge. He said some people have broken limbs in such cases.
Continuing, she pointed out that sympathizers of the bereaved family that came from Asaba, Benin and other places were not happy seeing the deplorable state of the road as they went to the scene of the incident.
Also lending his voice, a motorcyclist, Mr. Joseph said the road has become a threat to them. He also called on the government to do something about it.