Gully erosion has buried about three hundred houses in a couple of over ten years now in Ikot Effanga Mkpa community, Cross River State.
Currently, the ravine has sank over one hundred buildings, roads, worship centers and compelled landlords to become tenants as well as leaving many homeless, frustrated and unable to fight back to life.
Our reporter gathered that once it is raining season, the community located in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State, lives in fear and loses sleep to a fierce ravine stealing and warring against the community for over a decade.
Most residents have decided to stay out of their houses when it is raining saying saying “We don’t sleep with our two eyes closed especially when it’s raining, when the ravine is falling we used to hear a terrifying sound.”
An over 80-years-old community leader, who pleaded anonymity, explained that “the ravine had started a very long time ago and has expanded to where it is now, and about hundred houses have been swallowed up already.”
Another resident, who has been a landlord for 52 years is on the verge of losing his only house before his very eyes explaining that the ravine has already swallowed a section of his building, and if it continues to rain, the whole building will be gone soon.
He lamented: “even now as I am standing here, I’m looking for a house, even if it’s one room. I beg the government to assist me park my things, I’m living here with my children.”
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A landlady whose house is also on the edge, explains her misery: “sometimes when there is heavy rain, our hearts will be panicking, crying. We don’t know if our house will collapse.”
While on a visit to the ravine site caused by the erosion in her community, Obonganwan Effanga Mkpà, the Village Head of Ikot Effanga Mkpa community disclosed that about 300 houses have been submerged in a couple of over ten years now in the community.
She told our reporter that she has contacted different administrations of government in the state, but each administration that comes, only visits the scene for inspection and do nothing about it after.
The Village Head appealed to Governor Bassey Otu and President Tinubu administration to intervene before the whole community is wiped out.
At different sections of the community, residents were seen constructing barricades in their groups, contending to protect their buildings in the community.
To get the state government speak on this proved abortive as the Commissioner for Environment Hon. Moses John Osogi told our reporter he was in a meeting and was going to call back which he never did. Ravine site at Ikot Effanga Mkpa, Calabar Municipality.
