More than 600 homes and key community structures have been destroyed in Ayetoro, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, following a severe ocean surge that has continued to eat away the coastline and displace residents.
A video shared on X by civic accountability organisation revealed collapsed buildings, washed-out streets, and concrete barriers hurriedly erected by residents in a desperate attempt to protect their remaining structures—including the community’s historic block palace.
“This is Ayetoro community, left at the mercy of the sea,” an unidentified resident said in the footage, pointing to the advancing shoreline now less than five metres from the palace. “Eighty percent of the broad streets have been destroyed by the ravaging ocean surge.”
The resident further explained that both residential buildings and factories had been swept away. “Just now, Ayetoro has lost more than 600 residential buildings, including critical infrastructures and factories established by the community,” he added.
Starnews reported that the surge has destroyed farmlands, markets, churches, schools, and other vital structures, leaving hundreds of families displaced and scrambling for safety.
Community members expressed frustration over what they described as government inaction despite years of warnings from climate and disaster-management experts.
“If we can’t do it, nobody will do it for us. We have no choice but to protect our land and our people,” one resident lamented, noting that appeals to local and state authorities have yielded little result.
Newsmen questioned why ecological funds meant for shoreline protection were not deployed, despite earlier warnings from federal early-warning systems about rising sea levels and worsening coastal erosion.
The organisation called for urgent intervention, including shoreline protection, land reclamation, and long-term coastal resilience planning to prevent further destruction of the community.
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