By: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar.
Hope is now lost in Agwagune community in Biase local government area of Cross River state as the only remaining land for habitation is at the brink of total disappearance into cross river as landslide intensifies.
Over 2,000 houses with 3, 000 persons including women and children are the most vulnerable.
The relentless slide which increased its ferocity a week ago has crumbled and swept into the Cross River.
This is evident in the several lines of deep cracks on the floor across the village as well as the tilting and frail looking structures such as houses and electric poles which seemed to be standing on mere sand.
It would be recalled that this recent development might not be unconnected with the prediction of the visiting Environmental Assessment Team of NIPPS in 1992.
The team had said “five years from the period of the visit, a large portion of Agwagune would be swept away as a result of landslide”.
In 1997 an unprecedented slide occurred and destroyed over 30 houses killing 4 persons including a pregnant woman and injuring about 48.
The team also predicted that in 15 years time Agwagune will be no more as the landmass would have disappeared due to the slide.
However 2017 marks the 15th year and there is no surprise to the unprecedented activities of nature.
NIPPS had scientifically explained that the earth crust on which Agwagune lied was void due to the texture of the soil and that the community was at the verge of being swept into the water by persistent slide.
A survey conducted by the state emergency management agency (SEMA) showed that the entire community was in the state of panic as many had relocated to some of the uncompleted structures of the on-going Agwegune landslide rehabilitation site being constructed by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Cross River government.
Narrating his experience Mr. Kennedy Orok said the slide had become a daily occurrence from several fronts as several meters of land were washed into the river adding that the worst which occurred on Saturday night, January 7, 2017 took away a large portion causing panic as everyone scampered for safety.
Also speaking Mr. Daniel Ayamba who also spoke in an interview said that they were expecting government to hurriedly complete the rehabilitation site so as to save them from the ordeal of getting buried by the slide.
In her remarks Madam Omang Usetu ,expressed worry that the housing units being constructed would not be enough for the about three thousand families and wondered how she would survive with her children and grand-children.
Earlier in a remark, the former Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Mr. Vincent Aquah, commended the Federal and state governments for their effort towards the establishment of the rehabilitation site and prayed for more commitment to ensure its completion.
The Director General of SEMA, Mr. John Inaku, who visited the community to assess the damage described the situation as horrendous and expressed fears for the safety of the victims.
Mr. Inaku advised that while the issue was been addressed by the state governor as a matter of urgency, the people should relocate to safer areas to avoid injuries and deaths.
Over 2,000 houses with 3, 000 persons including women and children are the most vulnerable.
The relentless slide which increased its ferocity a week ago has crumbled and swept into the Cross River.
This is evident in the several lines of deep cracks on the floor across the village as well as the tilting and frail looking structures such as houses and electric poles which seemed to be standing on mere sand.
It would be recalled that this recent development might not be unconnected with the prediction of the visiting Environmental Assessment Team of NIPPS in 1992.
The team had said “five years from the period of the visit, a large portion of Agwagune would be swept away as a result of landslide”.
In 1997 an unprecedented slide occurred and destroyed over 30 houses killing 4 persons including a pregnant woman and injuring about 48.
The team also predicted that in 15 years time Agwagune will be no more as the landmass would have disappeared due to the slide.
However 2017 marks the 15th year and there is no surprise to the unprecedented activities of nature.
NIPPS had scientifically explained that the earth crust on which Agwagune lied was void due to the texture of the soil and that the community was at the verge of being swept into the water by persistent slide.
A survey conducted by the state emergency management agency (SEMA) showed that the entire community was in the state of panic as many had relocated to some of the uncompleted structures of the on-going Agwegune landslide rehabilitation site being constructed by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Cross River government.
Narrating his experience Mr. Kennedy Orok said the slide had become a daily occurrence from several fronts as several meters of land were washed into the river adding that the worst which occurred on Saturday night, January 7, 2017 took away a large portion causing panic as everyone scampered for safety.
Also speaking Mr. Daniel Ayamba who also spoke in an interview said that they were expecting government to hurriedly complete the rehabilitation site so as to save them from the ordeal of getting buried by the slide.
In her remarks Madam Omang Usetu ,expressed worry that the housing units being constructed would not be enough for the about three thousand families and wondered how she would survive with her children and grand-children.
Earlier in a remark, the former Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Mr. Vincent Aquah, commended the Federal and state governments for their effort towards the establishment of the rehabilitation site and prayed for more commitment to ensure its completion.
The Director General of SEMA, Mr. John Inaku, who visited the community to assess the damage described the situation as horrendous and expressed fears for the safety of the victims.
Mr. Inaku advised that while the issue was been addressed by the state governor as a matter of urgency, the people should relocate to safer areas to avoid injuries and deaths.
