The Negative Impacts Of A Natural Disaster, Stormy Ocean Surge O n Opu-Okumbiri Coastal Communities
By Amos Odhe.
The degree of natural disasters experienced in recent times by the people of Opu-Okumbiri coastal Communities in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has reached an alarming rate.
In the sequel of these horrific incidents, the rural people have no option than to raise alarm to Bayelsa State Government for succour to cushion the effect of the ocean surge on their environment in relation to their livelihood and survival.
In an interview with newsmen, Chief Akimi Suoton-Denven, the Chairman of Opu-Okumbiri Council of Chiefs and the Vice Chairman, Chief Korikiye Dugoebi Buhunu-Owei narrated that the people were traumatised by the sudden storm surge as they became awake in the dead night, with an interrupted sleep on Monday night, the 11th of March 2024.
They explained that the people were shocked to realize that the vast majority of their fishing gears had already been swept far away to the deep blue ocean by the high speed of the stormy ocean currents.
Pathetically, the duo; Chief Akimi Suoton-Denven, Chief Korikiye Dugoebi Buhunu-Owei recounted that it was at daybreak the people of Opu-Okumbiri coastal Communities noticed that many of their fishing canoes, engine boats, various types of hook lines and nets worth millions of Naira were lost to the ravaging Atlantic Ocean surge, which speedily rose above the shoreline and overflew their entire community dwelling places. Thus, a great many houses had been destroyed and their occupants had been rendered homeless. The people of Opu-Okumbiri coastal Communities had been under great distress.
Thereupon, on behalf of the rural dwellers and the fishing folks, Chief Akimi Suoton-Denven, Chief Korikiye Dugoebi Buhunu-Owei empathetically appeals to the International Community, Multi-National and Indigenous Petroleum Companies, as well as the Federal, State and Local Governments to come to their rescue.
The community leaders stressed this is utter disaster, they insisted that swift and wholesome intervention for immediate relief measures were required to ameliorate the unspeakable plight of the people of Opu-Okumbiri coastal Communities, before lasting solutions to this terrible menace be embarked upon.
