Ayetoro Faces Growing Threat From Coastal Erosion

Ayetoro, a fishing community in Ondo State, is losing more of its land each year as the Atlantic Ocean continues to erode its coastline.

The community, which is home to about 10,000 people, is now marked by the remains of houses destroyed by the advancing sea. Some buildings were washed away years ago, while others were lost only months ago.

Residents say families whose homes are destroyed often move further inland and rebuild, only to face the same problem again as the water advances.

Thirty-five-year-old Thompson Akingboye says residents are now walking over areas where houses once stood.

Ayetoro, also known as “The Happy Place,” was founded in 1947 by a group of Christians inspired by communal living.

The community is now among the visible victims of coastal erosion in Nigeria.

Residents say they are concerned about where they will go if the sea continues to take more of their land.

“This is our land. Where can we go? It’s complicated,” Akingboye said.