Kayode Olabanji, Okitipupa

Youths in Aiyetoro community in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State have again appealed to the state government  to extricate the community from extinction due to the ocean surge.

It was learned that the state executives during their recent meeting approved an action plan to extricate the community from extinction due to the ocean surge that has wreaked havoc on it.

According to Comrade Thompson Akingboye who spoke on behalf of other youths, since the 4th National Assembly, there have been pleas and petitions by the community to the State, National Assembly, the Presidency and the international communities to intervene and save  Aiyetoro people and land.

“Despite the  importance of this community and the danger confronting her, no tangible respite has come. The land continued to be eroded, houses continued to collapse into the sea, and people continued to die.

“Well-meaning indigenes and groups had made several protests and petitions yet nothing was done. Today, the story of Aiyetoro community sea-surge is a story of sorrow, tears and blood. It is a sad story of fraud,  neglect and losses,” he said.

Akingboye noted that the community has lost billions of Naira in real and tangible to this sea incursion. “Every aspect of our lives has been greatly affected, economically, educationally and health-wise.”

He said more than 5,000 people have been displaced, and landlords have become tenants in their  town as numerous people have no abode thereby sleeping wherever they find.

He, therefore, appealed to the state government to act promptly “because this period of the year is the season of high tide when we usually experience ravaging ocean surge that  leads to destruction in the community.”

“The news of the approval of an action plan recently at the state executive meeting to extricate the community from extinction due to the ocean surge that has wreaked havoc on it, came with ecstatic and euphoric excitement for the inhabitants.

So, we would not wait for the destruction of our properties and houses again before we start alerting the public of impending ocean surge,” he pleaded.

The Hope reports that the Ayetoro community in recent years has been faced with incessant sea attacks which have resulted to  rapid destruction of property  and the forceful relocation of several indigenes due to the destruction of over six hundred houses including schools,  maternity centres and industries established by the community through communal efforts.