Ikpe Ikot Nkon/Itu Mbonuso Road-Death Trap

…Claims More Lives

By Joe Etokudor

The only road linking the people of Ikpe Ikot Nkon and Itu Mbonuso with other urban centres in the state is in an utter state of disrepair. It would be recalled that for more than four decades, this area was totally cut off from the rest of the villages and towns in the state due to lack of motorable road. We are all aware of the fact that for easy transportation of goods and human beings, a good net work of roads is a “sine qua non”, Since the road was commissioned even when it had not been completed till date, it has not shown any sign of durability. The people are suffering untold hardship as a result of the deplorable condition of the road which has now become a death-trap. In between Nna Enin and Itu Mbonuso, there is a very big gulley erosion which has cut across the road-about two metres wide and 10 metres deep. This has remained there for almost two years now. This very place took its first toll on the eve of the collapse by killing a couple (husband and wife) who unknowingly plunged their motor bike right right into the depth of the pit thus breaking their spines and eventually giving up the ghost. The first victims were from Mbiakp. Ibakesi in Ini Local Government Area. After about one month from then, another victim plunged his Mercedes Benz Car, unknowingly into the deep pit-thus sustaining deep cuts on his body, while the car remained damaged. As that was not enough, the son of the clan Head of Itu Mbonuso Also lost his life there Getting down a little further to Nchana Ebua, thee is deep gulley erosion which has also broken the macadamized road into two at Ikot Essien between Nchana Ebua and Ananamong all in Itu Mbonuso clan. This place too has killed not less than four people. The recent victims a cyclist and his passenger rode directly into the deep pit lives eventually. Because of the deplorable condition of this road, long, bus all taxi drivers who used to play the road have refused to come to the area. Of course one can understand their plight. The people of the area can neither transport their farm produce for which they have been well reputed from time immemorial to the urban centres, nor can they enjoy a pleasant ride from the area to other areas. In view of this predicament and the subsequent unresponsive attitude of the government over this issue, the people are therefore forced to see the situation as kind of “marginalization”, as a term marginalization can be viewed as a process that is as old as man. Simply put, it is a process whereby an individual or groups of people are denied their inalienable rights either partially or wholly. Whichever way it’s the government should come to the aid of these communities by repairing the dilapidated road once and for all for the safety of lives.

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