Landslide has destroyed over 40 houses and historical sites at Marina axis of Calabar South, in Cross River State.

Some of the prominent buildings affected include the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, Edgerley Memorial Primary School, Primary Health Centre and the Europeans’ Cemetery.

For over 30 years running, that axis of Anderson and Marina have been experiencing erosion challenges and the community has tried its best to checkmate the menace to no avail.

Regardless, the incessant downpour between late September and this month had worsened the plight of the residents as, suddenly, some houses started caving in while the gully sites widened, thus, the movement of the earth.
Narrating their ordeals, the village head of Esuk Effiom Anderson Akoi, Dr Effiom Magnus Henshaw, said the erosion challenge has been on for over 30 years now.

Dr Henshaw said Federal Government had intervened severally to mitigate the impact of the landslide, but it had got out of control, leading to their present predicament.
Equally expressing concern, the youth leaders of the area, Prince Andem Ewa Ekeng and Mr Ewa Bassey, said, in a separate interview, that the youths in the area have tried all their possible best to control the erosion.

They said the gully does not escalate, but their efforts proved abortive and called on government to consider looking at the area with a view to controlling it.

•Excerpted from Daily Sun report