A seemingly intractable gully erosion has renewed its threat to lives and property of Umuizundu autonomous community in Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Council of Abia State.
In the past, two young men were swept away by the raging flood when they fell into the gully. The community said even the Regional Water Scheme in the area is endangered.
Lamenting that no visible action has been taken to address the issue, the community said it has sent an ‘Save our Soul (SOS) message to the state and federal governments.
According to them, the gully erosion, which reared its head many years ago, and worsened in 2017 during the construction of Amuda-Mbala road by undisclosed Construction Company has remained a threat to lives and property.
President General of Umuizundu Development Union, Daniel Okoroafor, said that the erosion covers a distance of about four kilometres from Umuogele along the Amuda-Mbala road. He stated that it has been expanding every raining season, estimating its width presently to about 200 metres at different points.
“A major Abia State water project, the Isuochi Regional Water Scheme, has come under serious threat and we are apprehensive that the building housing the Water Pump will cave into the gully this rainy season,” he said.
Also, the traditional Prime Minister of the community, Ichie Onwuanaku Uwalaka, said the gully erosion has limited the community’s farming activities because it took over farmlands, destroyed crops, and cut-off their access road.
Lamenting that the erosion has divided the community into two, a retired Methodist Church Minister, Rev Godwin Ikechukwu, said it also affected physical development hence “nobody can build on a land where erosion would one day come and swallow the building”.
Rev Ikechukwu disclosed that following the representation the community made to the State Ministry of Environment, its officials came and assessed the erosion site and its impact on the communities but nothing has been heard or done thereafter.
When contacted, the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Dr Philemon Ogbonna said the state would address the menace and follow it up with a lasting solution.