From Jimoh Ahmed, Ikare
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Residents of the ancient town of Ikare Akoko in Akoko North East Local Government area of Ondo State have cried out to the state and the federal governments to declare the town an ecological disaster zone as the continuous downpours have made many parts of the town to be heavily flooded making it impossible for both vehicular and human movement to take place.
Those who spoke with our correspondent said the situation might result in another disaster if not checked.
According to them, an early and timely intervention will save the loss of lives and properties.
A visit to the troubled spots by The Hope revealed that many drainages have been blocked while major roads have continued to be taken over by flood.
The badly affected areas include Hospital junction, First Bank area, Jubilee market while roads in Okoja, Iku and the one leading to Awara dam have all been washed away thereby making it impossible for vehicles to ply the roads.
As temporary measure to douse the consequence of an impending disaster, the Caretaker Chairman, Mr Rafiu Eniayewu mobilised the local government workers, market women, members of NURTW and community leaders to clear debris in the drainages to give way for easy flow of erosion.
Speaking during the clean up exercise, the local government Director of Environmental Services, Mrs Yemisi Adeniyi cautioned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages, especially when it rains as well as erecting buildings where they will obstruct the flow of erosion, swampy land and areas close to the rivers as they may submerge when it rains.
The Are Iyalaje of Ikareland, Chief Mrs Risikat Mohamed who mobilised Ikare market women for the clean up exercise noted that the topography of Ikare Akoko called for the state and the federal governments to come to their aid in the area of channelisation now that the population of the town is growing daily.
