“Save Us Before We Disappear”: Ekwulummiri Residents Plead as Gully Erosion Destroys Homes

Residents of Ekwulummiri, a once-thriving town in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, are pleading for urgent government intervention as gully erosion continues to wreak havoc, swallowing homes, farmlands, and economic trees. The community now faces a dire threat to its very survival.

The erosion has displaced families and disrupted daily life, forcing children to walk long distances to school and leaving many farmers without land to cultivate. “I’m scared for my children’s future,” said Mrs. Nneoma, a resident, during a media briefing in Awka. “Every rainy season, we hold our breaths, praying that the gully won’t consume more of our land.”

Community leaders say they have made several attempts to control the erosion, including planting trees and building drainage channels and catchment pits, but the gully continues to expand. “We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve rebuilt our homes, only to see them washed away,” said Chief Clement Ezeifedikwa. “We’re tired of living in fear. We need the government to intervene and save our community.”

Youth leader Cassidy Ikejiaku echoed the urgency, noting that local efforts have been overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster. “The gully is getting bigger and deeper, and we can’t stop it on our own,” he said.

Residents are calling on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the area and provide immediate relief. “We’re not just fighting for our homes; we’re fighting for our lives,” said Mr. Chinedu Anyaso, a community stakeholder.

Ekwulummiri’s plight highlights the broader crisis of gully erosion in Anambra State, which reportedly has over 1,000 active erosion sites. Without swift and coordinated intervention, the state risks further environmental destruction and displacement.