Flood Destroys Communities In Imo State, Displaces Thousands Of Residents
Flood has engulfed 15 communities around Abacheke in Imo State‘s Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, displacing and leaving thousands of people homeless.
This happened barely six months after an explosion at an illegal mining plant claimed the lives of more than 100 residents.
It was also gathered that farmland, cash crops, schools, churches, markets, cultivated farmland, fishing facilities, interconnecting access routes, and other sources of life in the communities are also drowned in the flood.
Affected residents evacuated their homes and goods as the flood reached rooftops.
Ifeanyi Nnaji, Head of Operations for the National Emergency Management Agency, who confirmed the development, said an investigation by the agency revealed that the flood happened as a result of an increase in water level near the Orashi river and Oguta lake, which are tributaries of the River Niger.
He said, “Findings from the assessment revealed a monumental flood covering about 15 communities, thereby affecting about three thousand people. The majority have been completely displaced, while some reside with relatives and neighbouring villages. Schools, churches, markets, cultivated farmlands, fishing facilities, interlinking access roads and residential homes were severely damaged as most buildings were submerged by the flood. Livestock and electricity have been seriously affected.”
The traditional ruler of the Abacheke community, HRH Eze Ikeji Ifeanyi Bright, blamed the flood on the recent heavy downpour and the overflow of the banks of the River Niger tributaries.
He added that even though it is a yearly occurrence, the current flooding is the second time they will be witnessing this magnitude after the 2012 floods.
He called on NEMA to urgently come to their help.
The NEMA team, led by Nweze Innocent, sympathised with the Eze and the affected communities for the losses and called on the people to move to higher and safer grounds for safety, pending when the flood receded.
He added that villagers should harvest their remaining crops as the volume of water would likely increase from the assessment.
