The people of Alajobi line 4 Safejo community in Ife-East Local Government Area of Osun State have appealed to the state government and Ife development board, to come to their aid as they continue to battle with landslides, coastal erosion and flooding every year.
The community chairman, Mr. Akinwale Damilare, escalated the cries of his people for help while speaking with reporters during a visit to the affected areas.
He described the yearly flooding of the community as a big problem which needs urgent attention adding that all the preventive measures put in place by the community to stop the occurrence did not yield any positive outcome.
An elder in the community, Chief Jamiu Agboola, expressed displeasure and alleged abandonment by the state and local governments for more than five years now.
He added that the development had resorted to begging the two tiers of government for intervention.
He pleaded with both the Osun State Government and Ife-East Local Government to make urgent intervention in the area, to prevent reoccurrence, which can lead to further loss of lives and properties in the community.
Also speaking with newsmen, one of the community leaders, Mr. Olagunju Olusola, appealed to the Osun State Government and Ife-East Local Government to help the community in the expansion of the river in Alajobi Safejo and in the reconstruction of the big bridge in the area, for the people to be able to sleep with their two eyes closed when there is heavy rainfall.
“Let the state and local governments come and do environmental impact assessment on Alajobi line 4 Safejo community and know exactly what we are passing through so that they can take urgent necessary actions to prevent our community from going extinct.” He added.
Part of the properties destroyed by the flood in the area, are houses, church, cemetery and other valuable properties.