Flood submerges over 40 houses in Edo

AGENE Godwin, Benin

No fewer than 40 houses have been submerged by flood in Udaba, Anegbette, Oghomere communities in Etsako Central Local Government Areas of Edo State.

The flood was occasioned by the rise in the water level of River Niger which led to the river overflowing it bank and subsequently affecting the communities.

Over 40 houses have been destroyed by the flood, several others have been submerged.

Hundreds of people of the communities affected by the flood have started relocating to nearby communities of Fugar and Auchi of Etsako Central and Etsako West respectively.

Some of the victims who spoke with our correspondent gave reason for their relocation to the continual rise in the water level.

The people have also resorted to premature harvesting of their crops in their farmlands which have been badly affected by the flood.

Among the victims is the state’s immediate past commissioner for Land and Housing, Mr Donald Osikhena who lamented that there have not been any response from the government since the problem started last Friday.

He also said the flood victims resettlement camp been constructed by the Federal Government was yet to attained 40 percent completion and have been abandoned by the contractor handling it.

Similarly, the village head of Udaba, Chief David Inetakpe said non completion of the resettlement camp have led to some of the victims relocating to their families in other villages while some others have moved to the upland.

“Even most painful is that we have not heard from the government since this problem started on friday.

“We need help and there is no point pretending about it. We need government to come to our aid.” he started.

Also, the village head of South Uneme Oliola, Chief Yakubu Ugbodaga who laments that the flood have impacted negatively on the lives of the people, express fear that the water level keeps increasing by the day.

Attempt to reach the State Emergency Management Authority (SEMA) proved abortive as several calls put through to his phone was never answered.

It would recalled that similar incident had affected these same communities in 2012.