Residents of Umuechime of Amuzukwu Community in Umuahia North LGA have sent an SOS to the Federal and State Governments to come to their rescue over the devastating landslide ravaging the area.
Speaking to newsmen at the life threatening site,the Head of Department, Information Unit,Government House Umuahia, Mr. Jinanwa Azubuike, said many houses along the area have caved into the landslide thus rendering their occupants homeless while other buildings are now under threat.
He added that the latest incident which happened on Monday afternoon involved a nursing mother and her baby who escaped death as their own building also caved into the landslide.
According to Mr Azubuike,the landslide was as a result of the incessant heavy downpour witnessed in Umuahia pointing out that the problem was beyond what an individual can handle and pleaded with the federal and state governments as well as the Nigeria Erosion Watershed and Management Project (NEWMAP)to come to the rescue of people in the area.
He said, “For some of us who live around here,whenever it rains,we don’t feel at ease especially when you have little kids,you find it difficult to sleep at night.
“About two years ago,we experienced a similar thing and just about two years after,you can see the level of devastation. The last time it happened,we tried to call the attention of government all to no avail. This time around,a nursing mother almost lost her life and that of her baby. If not for God’s intervention,we would have been talking about another thing all together.
“The enormity of the destruction is quite devastating. We currently live in fear. Land is caving in every now and then and no one knows what will happen the next minute. I am still here because I don’t have anywhere else to go otherwise I would have vacated this place with my family that same yesterday.
“Like I did appeal the last time,I would appeal to the federal and state government to come to our aid and rescue us. If nothing is done to check the landslide,the buildings,the road and the entire community will be cut off. It is not just something affecting the buildings,it is an emergency situation and in the near future it will affect the entire community”.
Also narrating her plight, the nursing mother who escaped death, Mrs. Ijeoma Emmanuel said she noticed vibrations and crackings on the wall of her apartment on Monday around 12pm adding that she carried her baby out only to see the building that she came out from had collapsed into the deep slope.
Mrs Emmanuel who thanked God for sparing her life and that of her baby said the family lost all their properties and are currently living on the mercy of good spirited individuals and pleaded with the government to come to their aid.
Other residents of Umuchime who were among several occupants whose buildings are in serious danger, including Patrick Asiegbu and Mrs. Ifeoma Nkemakolam said they have deployed self-help and cannot help the situation again.
They lamented that they now live in fear especially whenever it rains,regretting that they have no other place to relocate and appealed to government for immediate help so that they can heave a sigh of relief.
Residents of Umuechime of Amuzukwu Community in Umuahia North LGA have sent an SOS to the Federal and State Governments to come to their rescue over the devastating landslide ravaging the area.
Speaking to newsmen at the life threatening site,the Head of Department, Information Unit,Government House Umuahia, Mr. Jinanwa Azubuike, said many houses along the area have caved into the landslide thus rendering their occupants homeless while other buildings are now under threat.
