Five buildings and other properties in Obogoro in Yenagoa local government area have been swept into the Ikoli River following a landslide arising from coastal erosion.

The incident, which took place late Sunday night, displaced many locals as scores of residents fled from the ravaging landslide.

Residents are appealing to the Bayelsa and federal governments for help.

Ada Gwegwe, a frontline activist in the Save Obogoro Campaign, stated that the rampaging waters from the river are threatening the entire town.

Residents, fearful for their lives, are packing their valuables and abandoning their homes because of the rampaging coastal erosion in the area.

Mr Gwegwe also called on NGOs for help, stressing that the town may become history without their help.

A journalist with Nigerian Pilot, Eunice Nnachi, said previous promises by relevant authorities had remained unfulfilled, nothing that residents live in palpable fears.

In May, she explained that Governor Douye Diri, after inspecting St. John’s Primary School, Ogbogoro, washed away by the erosion, directed the commissioners for works and infrastructure and the environment to canalise the river at Obogoro in other to salvage the situation.

Ms Nnachi said the state had done nothing. An Obogoro chief, Richard Somkume, appealed to the governments to expedite action to save the community from extinction.

Obogoro Community Secretary Pulu Yogoi noted a looming disaster as the peak of the rainy season approaches.

He said the community had experienced severe landslides that washed an NYSC lodge, a community primary school, and a football field into the river.

“Farmlands with crops worth millions of naira have not been spared as the economic livelihood of the people has also been lost to the menace.

“St. Paul’s Primary School, located in Famgbe, a neighbouring community that would have served as an alternative for the pupils, has long been washed into the river with children from Obogoro forced to travel far to acquire basic education,” he said.

(NAN)