By Emma Amaize & Sunday Chancel, Bomadi

GBEKEBOR—FLOOD  has submerged Gbekebor  community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, rendering more than 200 residents homeless and destroying property estimated at over N120 million.

A flooded riverine community.

The people have, therefore, called on the appropriate government authorities to come to their rescue by   immediately piling and reclaiming the eroded land.

They alsos want the government to  construct a suitable shore protection and distributing relief materials to victims to alleviate their present sufferings.

Chairman of the community, Mr. M.O. Emiefa and President, Niger Delta Peace Movement, Mr. Tonfa Cyprian, in a joint statement, said: “Socio-economic activities in the community have also grounded to a halt.

School buildings submerged

“In fact, apart from the socio-economic implication of the flood in the community, high blood pressures and other health-related cases are also recorded. All educational activities are paralyzed, private and public school buildings are submerged by the flooded water.

“Consequently, there is widespread outcry by owners of houses, stores, carpentry workshops, churches and schools on effects of flood on their properties, as well as displaced persons. Besides, almost all Ijaw communities in the riverine areas in the Niger Delta do experience widespread inundation.

Gbekebor’s case peculiar

“But the Gbekebor case is peculiar because of the collapse of the seawall, coupled with the geographical location of the town, which is situated along the River Forcados, where it is exposed to the direct water current of River Niger.

“Against this backdrop, the community is passionately appealing to the  state and Federal Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC),  Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to come to our aid and free the people from the pathetic situation.”