Sat. Feb 8th, 2025

From TCNEWS

Iyialu, the land of snails (Ama eji) an agrarian community in Ibere clan, Ikwuano L.G.A, of Abia State has cried out over the devastating blow that gully erosion is dealing to the area after every self-help effort has failed to stem the menace.

The cocoa, palm produce, plantain, maize , cocoyam, banana, timber, yam and cassava producing community, which comprises of 14 villages, made the distress call during their annual New yam festival (iri ji ohuru) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Alex Otti, to come to the rescue.

Ezeji Chief Ogbuji Oriuwa (Omelanwata I of Oro Ibere autonomous community); Chief Nnochiri Mba (Frayo); Elder Ezeji Stephen Nwankwo; Chief Samson Igbudu; Mr. Nnamdi Irodinjo (Village head in charge of the health sector); Mr. Chukwuemeka Nkemdi (Cocoa dealer);  Mr. Odinakachi Ejekwa (Onwa); Chief Godday Nduche, the traditional prime minister; Chief Anyanwu Augustine Nnochiri, the President General of Iyialu Development Union, among others who spoke to our correspondent, lamented that if the gully erosion located at Umuokeinyang axis of the community is not tackled on time, that they will be cut off from the state.

The community also called on the government to create access roads to their farmlands and assist them with drugs and improved cocoa seedlings to boost productivity.

They boasted that the community is capable of feeding the entire people of Abia State, if given the needed support and attention by the government.

Pix: Ezeji Chief Ogbuji Oriuwa.

Our correspondent gathered that apart from the new yam festival, Iyialu, a community that gives snails as a gift to visitors, also celebrates other cultural recreational activities like ‘Ekete nsi’, ‘Ekpe’, Ekpé, ‘Okonko’, ‘Abamaba’, ‘Oboni’, ‘Oba’, among other festivals.

By NWAMARA

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