By PEREZ BRISIBE

.Protect us from erosion, Bomadi residents cry out 

BOMADI—RESIDENTS of Bomadi, Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, have their hearts in their mouths, following crushing erosion that had submerged scores of houses and threatening to sink more. They pleaded with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to intervene before the worse happens to them.

Effect of erosion at the popular Bishop’s front, Bomadi

A surveyor in the area, Mr. Dennis Mututu, disclosed that a large portion of land measuring about 15 metres wide and about 40 metres stretch on the coastline, had been washed into the river in a space of two weeks, affecting the base of a landing jetty by the river bank.

A resident, Mr. Olotu Preye, whose building is currently at the mercy of rampaging erosion, said the villagers had used sand bags to prevent the scourging erosion, but the measures could not match the intensity of the erosion.

When Niger Delta Voice visited the community, Our Lady of the Waters Cathedral Catholic Church, was among the hundreds of buildings that are at the verge of being submerged.

It’s just a matter of time

—Bishop Egbebo

Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate, His Lordship, Dr. Hyacinth Egbebo, who conducted our reporter round the house of worship, lamented the helpless state of the church to tackle the menace. He said the cathedral, an adjoining two-storey building and others stood the risk of been washed away at any time.

Calling on the state government and interventionist agencies to build shore wall by the riverbanks, he said: “We are very worried about the fate of the church and other buildings around, as one of them has already gone down as a result of the erosion. Efforts to reach Bomadi LG chair, Mr. Oluwole Karetimi, proved abortive, as calls and SMS to him were unanswered.