Govt orders residents to vacate Akwa-Ibom community ravaged by landslide

Three businesswomen ferrying their goods to the nearby markets escaped death when a landslide ravaged Afaha Oku in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. No fewer than three buildings were affected by the landslide.

The landslide occasioned by the rainy season forced Ikpa road to be completely cut off.

A development that made residents of the community plead with the state government to intervene and save their lives.

Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, a Councillor representing Ward 14, Oku 3, Mr Mmenyene Abasi Michael Okon, said the erosion has constituted a big challenge to the community, adding that “in order to prevent visitors falling into the ravine, the youth have mobilized themselves to keep vigil in the area just to direct people to the other side of the road.”

He disclosed that they had taken video clips of the situation and sent the same to the state government to address the situation.

“We woke up to see this disaster. We have tried our efforts to organise the youth to stand here and redirect the vehicles going to Uyo City Polytechnic, Barracks roads, Calabar-Itu and many other places.

“The students of schools that are inside here cannot have free access to receive lectures. So tricycles stop here and then the youth will direct them on how to go to the other side so that they will not eventually fall into the ravine.

“I have personally spent four nights here because when it happened some people did not know that something like this was going on. So, by putting light on, we have been able to save a lot of people from speeding into the ravine. This is how far we have gone.”

I have been cut off from my family ― Tricycle operator

One of the tricycle operators, Mr Joseph Umah, said since the problem started, he hardly goes home because there is no road for him, adding that each time he wants to drop money for the family, he would call his wife to collect money there because he could not cross the road.

“Since this incident happened I have never entered my house in the afternoon because there is no road for me to pass. I tried Urua Ikpa side but there was a problem. My family is down there, they used to come here and collect money from me. So government should do something about this road.”

Another resident, who identified himself as Effiong Bassey, called on the state government to intervene in order to save lives adding that the district contributed largely in returning the state governor for another term.

“Our road is not good. So we are begging this government to come to our aid and fix the road because we contributed in returning the present government to power but see, our road is not good enough,” he said.

Responding, the state Commissioner of Environment and Solid Minerals, Mr. Charles Udoh, warned the people to relocate, adding that “there is nothing the state government can do now until the rains stop.”

He appealed to residents understand with the state government, adding the engineering drawing have been completed but its implementation is waiting for the rain to stop.

“There is nothing we can do now. We can’t start work until after the rains because there is no equipment that can enter that place for now. I have explained this several times to the people that even if there is money, there is nothing we can do now,” Udoh said.

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