Erosion: Bayelsa community under threat of extinction

By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa – An environmental advocacy group, Environmental Right Action and Friends of Earth, ERA/FoEN, has expressed concern over the fate of Anibeze community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, which is on the verge of being washed away by erosion.

The group urged the State and Federal Governments to intervene and avoid the mass relocation of the people of the community to neighbouring communities in Patani, Delta State and Adagbabiri community in Sagbama council, Bayelsa State.

State coordinator of  ERA/FoEN, Alagoa Morris, in a report on the erosion, said that based on the testimonies of some members of Anibeze Community Development Committee, led by a former Secretary, Samuel Ese, the situation in the community has become frightening.

He said: “It is better imagined than being a member of the community facing such ecological trauma. The hope of the people that help would eventually come their way has really ebbed considering their efforts in the past to get the attention of the state and federal government agencies as what the community is facing is beyond their power to check.”

Chairman of Anibeze Community Development Committee, Mr. Lucky Opuana, on his part, said: “ I have lived in this community and witnessed most of the land and buildings being washed into the river.

“It is very pathetic and we don’t know what to do to protect our land and buildings now. We hope the authorities will hear our cries and come quickly to our assistance. We had lost two big generators given to the community by the administration of Chief Melford Okilo, in the old Rivers State.”