Dark clouds hung heavily over the sky on a Wednesday morning, signaling an impending downpour as this correspondent embarked on a journey through the creeks and waterways of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
For more than two hours, a boat ferried us across winding channels and expansive waterways toward a cluster of oil-producing riverine communities now battling an existential threat: relentless incursions from the Atlantic Ocean that have swallowed vast portions of ancestral lands, displaced thousands of residents, destroyed livelihoods, and left vulnerable populations seeking refuge in churches.
On Deep Sea in Ilaje
Across more than 10 affected communities, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and elderly residents were found taking refuge inside churches that have become makeshift shelters after sea water engulfed their homes.
The affected communities include Awoye, Mese, Odofado, Opakaba, Ikuyimino, Nati, Anehin, Ogbeyangban, Akinsolu, Jinrinwo, Gbagira, Molutehin, and several adjoining settlements.
