By John Asiegbu
The people of Ibeoma Ekwe Autonomous Community in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, have made a distress call to the Imo State Government to rescue them from sweeping flaod and its attendant life threatening gully erosion in their community.
The people made the distress call on Wednesday, 25th Oct. 2023, when Newsmen visited the community to ascertain the level of flood rake and erosion havoc in the ancient community
Investigation revealed that the community which, before now, had a functional Erosion Control Mechanism, recently got submerged and devastated by flood, following a flood channel failure.
The failed channel links flood from neighbouring Amaigbo and Isu Njaba towns, passing through the community to a nearby stream, Its failure led in recent weeks, caused flood to find its way into Ibeoma Ekwe Autonomous Community, causing colossal damages in the community.
As a result, major roads have eroded, cutting into two, farm lands have been destroyed with crops, animals washed away. Homes are not left out as most families have been displaced with houses and human lives under severe threat.
The worst hit of all roads in the community is the main Obara – Umudiwoha – Anuike – Mbazu road which links the community with other communities and rest of the world.
The road has completely cut into two, disconnecting the people from other communities and subjecting them to untold hardship as human and vehicular movements have become impossible.
Speaking to Newsmen, Pastor Celestine Nwawuihe from Obara Owerre, decried the havoc occasioned by flood and erosion in the community, maintaining that the community witnesses heavy flooding several hours after every rainfall.
” lives and property of the people of Ibeoma Ekwe are in danger. life is meaningless here. We have been cut off by flood. We are trapped. Our lives and property are under threat.
We are calling on the Imo State Government under Sen Hope Uzodinma to urgenty run to our aide in order to save our souls”
A retired Secondary School Principal, Chief Julius Ugwoeruchukwu, who lamented what he described as neglect of Ibeoma Ekwe Autonomous Community by state government, wondered if the community was still part and percel of Imo State.
“Our people have been so neglected despite voting during elections that i am beginning to wonder if we still belong to the state”
“I want to seze this opportunity to appeal to our listening Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to please, identity with us in this circumstance by fixing the failed flood channel and also fix our dilapidated and deplorable roads for free movement and normal activities to return in our community.”
In the same vein, the youths leader of Ibeoma Ekwe, Hon Chuchukwuemeka Chimezie, noted that as a result of destruction and cutting off of major roads in the community by the flood, vehicular movement and economic activities have been crippled.
He stated that cars were strapped in various compounds due to poor road network, stressing that people have resorted to the construction of local bridges in order to assess their relatives and those in the neighborhood.
Chimazie who spoke on behalf of the youths of the community, implored Sen Hope Uzodinma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Sen Osita Izunaso, the Senator representing Orlu Senatorial Zone in the upper Chamber of the National Assembly and the Member Representing Isu State Constituency in the Tenth Imo State House of Assembly, Hon Modestus Osakwe, to rescue the community from existential threat.
