As the rainy season gathers momentum, residents of Gege Area of Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State are living with fears and have sent an SOS message to the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde over deaths being recorded by the effect of Gege River.
Gege River which passes through the main area of Ibadan has a deep ditch behind the popular Gege meat market. The top of this deep hole is covered with refuse and all manner of waste, making unsuspecting passers-by to think it is a dry spot but immediately they step on it, they fall into a deep hole.
Findings reveal that the body of the victim resurfaces three or four days later. This has been the experience of people of this area as they declared with sympathy that more than nine people, mostly youths, have fallen into the ditch. They are calling on Governor Makinde to visit the area and do something urgently to avert more deaths.
The residents said the former House of Reps member, Hon. Folake Olunloyo, did some work on the river but could not finish before the end of her tenure at the National Assembly while her successors, did not continue with the project.
It was gathered that the chairman of Ibadan West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Tajudeen Adigun (Attuu), where the troubled spot falls in, visited the area and promised to call the attention of the state to the problem, but nothing has been done since his visit.
It was learnt that the day the chairman visited coincided with the day the river returned the body of a young girl that was trapped inside the river three days earlier to the surprise of the chairman and his team.
When Nigerian Tribune visited, a temporary barricade had been done by the community with the use of red and white caution tapes around the spot.
It was observed that five of the victims had been buried by the riverside and their graves are there for all to see.
The residents of the area are appealing to the Oyo State Government to come and help clear the river and remove a dilapidated drainage erected in the middle of the river by a former member of the House of Representatives
The residents and traders at the Gege market did not rule out the spiritual aspect of the deaths. They have therefore been making contributions to offer sacrifices several times to appease the river god.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, Miss Akinade Kehinde said she was born in Gege area and has been living there since.
She said the problem started some years ago when it was discovered that there was a hole inside the river that is as deep as a storey building.
“I have witnessed the burial of some victims by the riverside. Our appeal goes to Governor Makinde to please help us remove the dilapidated concrete in the middle of the river, close up the ditch and ensure free flow of water as a first step. Then, he should help to do proper channelisation like it has been done for Ogunpa River,” she said.
Another resident, Alhaja Mujidatu, who is in her 60s, pleaded with the governor to assist the people.
“Our governor should come to our aid. As a mother, it is very sad to witness the deaths of young and agile youth in this river.
“We voted for Governor Makinde and now that we have problem, he should reciprocate by helping us out. Let him visit us, we will tell him, what is happening. God bless our governor,” she said.
Mr Omotosho Saheed said the problem started when drainage was constructed in the middle of the river in 2012.
“Before then, there was no problem. The drainage didn’t cover the width and length of the river hence whenever there was heavy rainfall water dug the front of the drainage and created a deep gully-like hole. This deep hole has become a danger point over the years, claiming so many lives. So, we the residents have demarcated the danger zone but most passersby may not understand the reason behind the demarcation especially late in the evening or early in the morning because it was done with cellophane tape.
“Our appeal is to the government to come to our aid. The government should help us do proper channelisation,” he pleaded.
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