A ravaging gully erosion has destroyed more than 30 houses in Agor-Uwagboe community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, leaving residents apprehensive about the possible loss of their entire settlement.
The erosion has also cut off the community’s access road through Ofumwengbe and Egbiri communities, forcing residents to construct a makeshift wooden bridge to enable motorcyclists to cross the affected section.
Speaking during a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the state government to their plight, a resident, Mr Ernest Uwagboe, said the gully was gradually extending into the community.
Uwagboe expressed fears that the entire community could be swallowed by the erosion within the next three years if the state government failed to urgently intervene.
Also speaking, the community spokesman, Kenneth Adoni, said several letters had been written to relevant government agencies seeking assistance, but none had yielded any positive response.
“We are begging Governor Monday Okpebholo to come and help us. For the past three years, the gully has caused lots of problems. We cannot cross to other communities. Whenever it rains, children cannot go to school.”
