By Obialunamma Nwadiogbu

Ekwulobia — Igbokaenyi, one of the seven Igala speaking communities in Anambra State that had been abandoned over the years by both the local and state governments. The seven Igala communities known as Olumbanasaa and located at Anambra West Local Government area of Anambra State include Ode, Igbedor, Odekpe, Alla, Onugwa, Odomagwu and Igbokaenyi.

Ezeemo flanked by members of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Igbokaenyi.

The Olumbanasa is an island inside the River Niger and can only be accessed through water. However, Igbokaenyi Community has a population of less than 2,000 people. People hardly visit them.

The predominantly agrarian community has no potable water, electricity, access road, schools, GSM network and other social amenities in this 21st century that is characterized by globalization and technological innovations. and their sons and daughters who are resident outside.

And for his joy of felicitating with the abandoned, a philanthropist and Publisher, Orient Newspapers, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo took a trip to Igbokaenyi community. The traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Osuji was not on seat but his spokesman, Dr. Okolo Paul, while giving more insight into the well-being of the community, described Igbokaenyi community as a macro minority, that is grossly marginalized and neglected in terms of infrastructure.

He narrated how he lost his day old child at Asaba hospital because they could not get to the hospital on time when his wife was on labour by midnight. Hear him: “That was the day I cried to heaven as I watched my wife dying gradually in pains. I called the ferry men but they had all gone to bed. One of them that managed to answer me, charged N3,000 which I paid. Before we could get to hospital in Asaba, the neighbouring Delta State capital, the child had already died in its mother’s womb. My wife has been in unstable condition since then. She is still recuperating.”

Igbokaenyi appears to be the most neglected or forgotten tribe in Anambra State as government presence has not in any way been felt by the people, especially in the area of basic amenities and infrastructure. According to a resident, Mr. Emmanuel Okolo, the only health centre in the community ‘’is as lifeless as a morgue as no health personnel or drugs could be found there.

The place can only be accessed through Illah in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, at the river bank where visitors and even the indigenous people park their vehicles and then travel on ferry boats for over 30 minutes to the area before trekking for another 20 minutes to get to the heart of the community.

An Anglican priest in the community, Rev. Victor Ogbalu revealed that the area had no functional health centre or potable water. He said: “When I came here last year, I met only seven worshippers at St. Mary’s Anglican church as the faithful. I have not set my eyes on any politician or prominent person in this town. Social amenities are very serious issues here.

“For one to go to Onitsha or Awka, the state capital, you have to go to Asaba or Nzam and from here to Nzam will take about 30 minutes on a motorbike that will drop you at the river bank because there is no access road. There is no single health facility here as we rely on the mercy of the patent medicine dealers. Pregnant women go to Asaba or Onitsha to be delivered of their babies as the nurses posted here usually run away after reporting on the first day, complaining that there is no life here.

“The teachers posted here also run away after reporting and we have no single secondary school, except a lone primary school. Our children who passed common entrance examinations trek from here to our neighbouring town, Igbedor, which is about five kilometres from Igbokaenyi for their secondary education. That secondary school is the only one in the entire Olumbansaa communities.

“For water, that one is pitiable as we drink and do other domestic affairs from River Niger. Sometimes, if you draw water from the well, it will be as clean as water from the borehole, but after some minutes, it will turn reddish which we treat with alum before drinking. “We can’t talk of electricity supply because most children of 20 years and above who have not been to townships cannot describe what electricity is like, as they have never seen any since birth.

My brother, we are in another world but I am happy we are very happy people as this place is as secured as anywhere you can think of in the world.”

Meanwhile, a philanthropist, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, who was at Igbokaenyi at the time South East Voice visted and worshipped with the people at St. Mary’s Anglican Church in company of his ally and the Progressive People’s Alliance, PPA, state chairman in Anambra, Dr. Ralph Chikwenze, as well as Chief Ameke Oranwike, among other personalities, expressed shock that a community like Igbokaenyi existed in the state. Ezeemo later donated food items, drinks and some packs of bottled water to the people.