From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The people of Ezetu 1 community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have called out for help after the boat tragedy which claimed 20 lives.
The Chairman of the Community Development Committee, CDC, Richard Emmanuel, noted that the tragedy has disrupted economic activities in the community causing hunger.
According to him, the dead bodies have polluted the river which has affected fishing and the source of livelihood of a majority that depend on fishing to survive.
Emmanuel added that the destroyed boat was the only avenue for food to get to the community but it has since stopped after the mishap.
He called on Bayelsa governor, Senator Douye Diri, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to the aid of the people.
‘’The bodies of those that died were recovered through the efforts of the community and more so, based on what happened, the territory has been polluted; the fishermen no longer go to fish and there is a need for the state government led by Senator Douye Diri, to come to our rescue.
We are also only using the opportunity to call on our local government chairman Southern Ijaw to come to our aid. Please we’re calling on the management of the National Emergency Management Agency, Bayelsa State chapter to come to our aid.
‘’The federal government should know that the area has been polluted and nobody can go to their usual fishing business. Please we are calling for the government to come to our aid by providing relief materials to sustain the community because, at the end of this week, we might not know what will happen to our people.
‘’It is a really sad situation. It’s a terrible mishap where over 18 souls were lost in the process and now, we can not find a genuine way of getting foodstuffs to our village.
‘’The victims were the only people who had volunteered individually and came together to ensure that they do some kind of trade by barter to supply foodstuffs and now that this channel has been blocked at the moment, there is no other boat available supplying foodstuffs within the area. What we’re talking about now covers both our community and every other satellite community within this region. So, we are pleading with Senator Douye Diri, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to please send us relief material. Our people are starving due to the adverse effects of what has happened’.”