By Uzo Ugwunze
Residents of Okoluche Estate in Ikenga Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, have cried out over the rising spate of insecurity, flooding, and infrastructural decay in the area, calling on the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo to urgently intervene.
The residents, who spoke under the auspices of Okoluche Landlords Association during a town hall meeting on Sunday August 9, 2026, lamented that the deplorable state of Vinas Road and other access roads in the estate have exposed them to kidnappers, armed robbers, and recurring flood disasters which had resulted to the loss of 4 persons.
Addressing newsmen, the Okoluche Landlords Association Chairman, Chief Michael Nzekwesili (Oba Anam)said: “We have lost lives. Our people are being kidnapped in broad daylight and robbed at night. The deplorable state of the road has made the Vinas Road junction by Enugu – Onitsha Expressway a death trap for unsuspecting road users and residents of the area.
Moreso, the Chairman Committee on Road maintenance, Daniel Mgbakor and his predecessor, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Ukanwa said that the Okoluche Landlords have spent over 25 million naira on selfhelp, constructing drainages,culverts and sand filling the roads yet the pressure of flood during rain destroys their efforts.
The Vice Chairman and Secretary Okoluche Landlords, Mr Chukwuemeka Uyammadu and Chief Romanus Nwasolu respectively said that heavy flooding has created a massive gully erosion that cut off some major parts of the road.
“During the rains, the entire estate is submerged because of heavy flooding coming down from Iyienu area, Building materials and Bakery markets. In fact anytime it rains, it will take nothing lesser than 3 hours for the raging flood to subside before we can access our houses.
“This Vinas Road, which serves as the major link to the estate and connects 3-3 Nsugbe has become completely impassable. It has crippled businesses, increased transportation costs, and made the area a safe haven for criminals.
“School children wade through flood water to go to school. Pregnant women and the sick cannot be taken to hospital on time. Yesterday, a Young man who was recently settled by his Master was kidnapped at this Vinas Road junction. He paid a ransome of 11 million naira to regain his freedom.
“We are calling on Governor Soludo to come to our aid. We need urgent road reconstruction, drainage system, because for many years we have been suffering a lot especially during the rainy season,” the residents pleaded.
However, the residents commended Governor Soludo for his infrastructural strides across Anambra State through the Solution Agenda, and expressed confidence that his intervention will extend to Okoluche Estate.
They appealed to relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Works and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the area to provide immediate relief and also re-install the vandalized security searchlights mounted by the previous administration around the junction by Expressway.
The residents vowed to continue to support government initiatives aimed at restoring security and development in the state, while urging community members to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.
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