Bakassi returnees camping in Akwa Ikot Eyo
Edem have been displaced following a devastating
windstorm that ravaged St Mark's Primary School
being used as their temporary camp since March 7,
2013.
The windstorm which occurred on May 18 at
about 4pm blew off the roof of a four-classroom
block exposing the over 2,000 returnees to harsh
weather.
The rains that accompanied the storm aggravated
the problems of the returnees, who included
women and children.
Mattresses, sleeping mats, clothes and other
personal belongings were soaked, making life
unbearable for them.
Also pathetic was the destruction of foodstuffs
such as garri, rice beans, salt and other perishable
items subjecting the returnees to trauma.
Our correspondent, who visited the camp on
Thursday, observed that mattresses, clothes, mats,
foodstuffs were spread out in the sun to dry even
though the poor weather showed no hope of
abating.
The camp coordinator, Mr. Okon Ene, said that it
was a pathetic scenario as the people never
envisaged that the storm could blow off the roof.
He said, "We had to herd the children and women
to some safer corners while the men had to work
throughout the night trying to salvage their
property."
Assessing the damage, the Director-General of the
State Emergency Management Agency, Mr.
Vincent Aquah, said frantic arrangement was
being made to relocate the returnees to a safer
area.
He said he was aware of possible weather-related
diseases such as colds that could ravage the
people.
Aquah said, "Our record shows that 73 houses
were affected in Akpabuyo, while Ogoja had 497
houses destroyed. Boki 403, Obudu 33 and Etung
23. The storm displaced over 12,000 persons."
The returnees numbering over 2,000 had on
March 7 fled to Ikot Eyo Edem in Akpabuyo - a
Nigeria -Cameroonian border community
following alleged harassment by the Cameroon
authorities.
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