In the past four years, the Atlantic Ocean has caused significant damage in Odioma community, Brass local government area of Bayelsa State, completely washing away at least 50 buildings. The most recent incident occurred on August 2, 2023, when a one-storey building owned by Mr Gladstone Amabebe collapsed around 9 pm, luckily after eight family members had evacuated.
According to LEADERSHIP, before the collapse, an unusual surge in water levels was observed, covering the entire shoreline with water and washing away all houses in front of the seashore, including coconut trees located about 100 meters from the Atlantic Ocean. This alarming rise in water levels has been ongoing since 2020.
The chairman of Odioma Council of Chiefs, Chief Marlin Omieh-Munata, expressed concern during a visit to the community, stating that approximately 25 residential buildings have already been eroded by the ocean. He pleaded for assistance from both state and federal governments to prevent the community from being inundated in the near future.
Despite their appeals, no assistance has been received yet from the government, and the situation continues to worsen. The community has approached various authorities, including NDDC, the federal government, and the ecological area of the country, but no aid has been provided. With buildings collapsing and the land being gradually eroded, the community faces a dire situation, Omieh-Munata, reveals.
A witness to the recent incident, Pastor Ayebanengiyefa Ikierigha, who is the younger brother of the building owner, expressed relief that no lives were lost during the collapse, attributing the incident to a natural disaster. However, the community remains at great risk, and urgent measures are required to protect the remaining structures and residents from the relentless force of the ocean.
