A menacing gully erosion has destroyed sections of the palace of Ezie Ukoha Kalu Ukoha, the paramount ruler of Ebem Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, exposing the monarch and his family to danger.
Also, some other parts of the community, including homes, economic trees and lands have been damaged by the devastating erosion, creating fear among the residents.
Reports said the gully erosion, which developed in small size a few years ago, has now expanded in size and depth, exposing the natives of Ekeleugo Ebem autonomous community to danger.
Further media reports quoted the Publicity Secretary of Ebem Ohafia Development Union, Ifeanyi Okali, as lamenting that the life and property of his kinsmen, including the traditional ruler, are currently under threat of being wiped out by the erosion, especially during this rainy season.
He explained that different age grades and the Ebem Ohafia Development Union had done some palliative works in tackling the problem, but regretted that the ecological problem is now beyond the capacity of the community.
He, therefore, appealed to the Federal and State governments, lawmakers including Orji Uzor Kalu (Senator for Abia North) and Ibe Okwara Osonwa (Reps member for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency), as well as other influential individuals and government agencies to urgently come to their aid before it is too late.
“I had raised an SOS appeal to both the Federal and State governments, warning about the severe threat erosion poses to our land.
“Today, it became painfully clear that if urgent steps are not taken, Ebem Ohafia risks being wiped off not just from Google maps, but also from the map of Abia state,” he warned.
Okali, however, said that the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA), which was created by Governor Alex Otti, has promised to start palliative works on the affected houses and lands.
According to him, the Director-General of GODA, Obinna Odum, has visited the endangered royal palace and other sites to take record of the devastation soon after he (Okali) raised the fresh alarm.
He added that the paramount ruler of Ebem Ohafia autonomous community, Ezie Ukoha Kalu Ukoha, is appreciative and relieved by GODA’s promise to start palliative works in his community.