* Delta Gov Okowa


 By Nosa Eresoyen, Asaba

          A coastal erosion of high magnitude has hit and swept away the shore protection wall of Tuomo Community in Buturu  Local Government Area of Delta State. 

 The incident, which is the first of it kind in the community, also cut off the ongoing internal road project along the community waterfront.

 No life, however was lost to the phenomenon, but indigenes were seen packing their belongings from the trouble spot to avoid being  victims in the event of a repeat occurrence, as at the time of filing in this report.

  An eye witness, Mr. Oruferebo Hebrew, narrating how the incident occurred, said “Yesterday around 5.30 pm, we were playing football in the field and suddenly, we heard a high cracking sound at Foukonou area of the community.
   “Curious to know what really happened, we went to the scene only to see that the community shore protection wall has been broken by erosion. We were amazed to see the magnitude of the incident.

  “Many people have already packed out of the area because there are cracks everywhere, and in case  of any rainfall, it will be fatal and we don’t pray for that to happen.

  “A similar incident of lesser magnitude occurred in another spot of this shore protection last year, which sent fears into the hearts of the people living around the place.” he said.

  The traditional ruler of Tuomo community, Chief Samuel O. Emokpo, speaking on the incident, called on the state and federal governments to intervene without delay, to save lives and property.

   He said, “ I want both the state and federal governments to intervene immediately because any moment from now, any rainfall in this area will aggravate the incident.

   “All the people living around the area are now packing their belongings to flee because of the new cracks that are becoming wider and wider every passing minute.

  “I call on the company that is handling the job, Vibro Flotation Nig. Ltd. to mobilize to site immediately, to avert calamity befalling the whole community,” he said.

  A prominent indigene of the community, Chief Akpola Ekperi, called  on the Niger Delta Development  Commission, NDDC, the owner of the job to intervene  without toying with the lives of the community folk.

  “What I observed here is earthquake and not erosion. I  believe that the dredging work of a construction company handling  the Tuomo-Torugbene-Ojobo road, which carried out dredging on this spot around 2007/2008 could have contributed to the incident.

  “The shore protection job was started in 2007 and up till this moment, not even half of the job is done. When we queried the contracting firm, Vibro Flotation Nig. Ltd. over the slow pace of work, they said money has not been paid to them.

   “I call on the NDDC to intervene and call the contractor to site without  wasting any time, because the situation needs urgent attention,” he said.
Thunderstorm Destroys 100 Houses in Delta Community
 No fewer  the 100 houses were on  Monday, destroyed by heavy thunderstorm which  wreaked havoc in Udu Community in Delta State.

   Reports said the thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall for several hours, sent residents into panic situation as many of them ran  to the neighboring community for fear of the unknown.

 A community leader, Chief Matthew Uparan told journalists that the devastating  effects of the storm includes several households forced to sleep with no roof over their heads . Investigation revealed that school buildings with various classrooms were also reduced to rubbles by the storm. 

 The Tornado like storm, with its devastating violent Cyclone movement carried the entire roof off the Ovwian primary School buildings, and deposited it on other buildings, thereby creating more devastating effects at the Land.