Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Chairman, OHANIVO Grassroot Movement (OGM), Orji Joseph, has on behalf of the people expressed concern over the continuous drowning of Indigenes of Amaeke Village, Ishiagu Community, in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State at the Ike River located in the area.
Orji who expressed sadness over the flooding of the bridge during rainy seasons said that between 2020 till last year, over 5 Indigenes of the community have drowned in the river while returning from their farmland.
He noted that the Ike River is in need of a bridge construction adding that the bamboo woods used by the community in constructing the bridge usually collapse during raining season with flooding thereby posing great danger to the rural Farmers who use the bridge to access their farmlands.
He said: “During rainfall or rainy season like this, farmers within the community always find it difficult to cross the Ike river to cultivate their farmlands and subsequently harvest their farm produce. The people of Amaeke especially women depend on farm produce to earn a living.
“The social and economic challenges posed by the Ike river is not an easy one as flood from the river always destroys plantations and farm crops exposing a man who had laboured to be a borrower at the end of the farming season.
“Our aged men and women are always at risk each time they are returning from the farm during the rainy season. The Ike river is always flooded and we have lost about 5 persons as a result of the collapse of the makeshift bamboo bridge the community constructed to enable members of the community access their farmlands.
“Amaeke Ishiagu has a common boundary with Ndi-Agbor in Enugu State. If the Ike river is motorable, transportation of farm produce will be easier. There will be interstate movement from Ebonyi to Enugu State. Amaeke has the shortest link road to Enugu State.
“Ndi-Agbor and Ndi-nneochele in Enugu State will be bringing their farm produce for sale in Ishiagu as we depend on each other for survival especially at this critical point of our lives.”
He further noted that there are abundant and quality sand in the river connecting from Enugu State. And that if the Ike river bridge is constructed, it will create employment to the youths of Ishiagu and will reduce the high rate of youths engagement in hard drugs and other criminal activities created by idleness and unemployment.
He called on the Ishiagu Community Development Union, (ICDU), the Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Emmanuel Ajah, and the State Government to come to their aid and construct the Ike river bridge to save the lives of the rural Farmers.
