Flood has continued to wreak untold havoc in many communities in Nigeria. Yesterday, the District Head of Auyo in Jigawa State, Alhaji Umar Baffa, broke down in tears over the devastation caused by flood in Auyo town and environs.
Baffa, who holds the title of Sarkin Auyon Hadejia, said at his palace that the flood, caused by the overflow of Hadeja-Jamaare River, completely submerged the town and neighbouring communities.
“Three of my people died and properties worth N3.5 billion were lost in the flooding that submerged the town and some villages in my domain.
“For two days, water was overflowing from the Hadejia-Jama’are River to Auyo, and before we could do anything, the water submerged the town and the neighbouring villages.
“The villages include Jura, Rafeji, Uza, Gamakwai, Zabaro and Ayama.
“In the process, three people got missing and we immediately put up a search team and their bodies were later found.
“Many houses, farmlands, animals and other properties were destroyed during the flooding.”
A businessman, Alhaji Isa Auyo, who lost 10 trailer loads of fertilizer, said it was a devastating experience.
“You can see the whole town is submerged; all the people have deserted the town and are now taking refuge in various Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) camps across the state.
“I am really worried about the plight of the people and I appeal to the government, individuals and corporate organisations to rescue us from this catastrophe”.
For some weeks now, many communities have been submerged, leaving some residents dead and many other victims devastated.
However, barely three days after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited some of the victims of flood in Anambra and Delta states, some agencies and government officials have donated cash and relief materials to the victims.
The victims in Anambra State got some relief materials at the weekend through the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, while the Minister for Petroleum (State), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, visited and donated some relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons affected by flooding in Delta State.
However, a flood-ravaged community, Polobubo, in Warri North Council of Delta State, has lamented what it described as “the level of neglect the affected residents are currently facing,” and accused Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of failing to lead the vice president to the community to see the extent of damage in the community.
Some of the materials NEMA sent to Anambra victims include 600 bags of rice, 300 bags of cement, 200 bags of Milo, 300 bags of beans, 1,000 cartons of Omo and 300 cartons of tin tomatoes .
The Southeast Coordinator of the agency, Mr. Walson Ibarakuno-Barandon, handed over the materials to the Anambra State Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency SEMA, Mr. Paul Odenigbo, yesterday in Awka, Anambra State.
The Minister for Petroleum (State), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who visited the Julius Berger Internally Displaced Persons in Asaba, Delta State, also made some donations.
Items he donated included cash, amounting to N1 million, bags of rice and other food items.
He said there is need for government to look into resettling the displaced persons. As he puts it: “The people are living in shanties. They obviously need to be resettled. The federal government will support them. We will look into resettling people,” he said, explaining that he was there “to see and understand the situation” and that the donation “is my personal contribution,” Kachikwu said.
Chairman of the camp, Chief Samuel Obi, who received the items on behalf of the members, commended Kachikwu for the effort.
Meanwhile, Polobubo, a flood-ravaged community, in Warri North Council of Delta State, has lamented the level of neglect the affected residents are currently facing.
It expressed disappointment that those who should show genuine concerns have failed to do so.
Although it expressed appreciation to the Delta State Government for giving its inhabitants N5million aid for relief materials, the community noted that the gesture would be nothing to ease the distress of over 30,000 persons.
A statement by the National President of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Group of Communities, Mr. Ebilate Mac-Yoroki, said: “We thank the Delta State Government for donating N5 million to buy relief materials for the flood devastated people of Polobubo (Tsekelewu).
“This is a community of over 30,000 people with four government primary and two secondary schools. It also has several private schools, churches etc.
“We are joint host communities to the Chevron Opuekeba platform, Tsekelewu oil fields and Shell Opuama flow station, where government accrue billions of dollars regularly. For 30,000 people to live on N5m is very pathetic. We also protest Governor Okowa’s refusal to allow the Vice President visit Polobubo community where oil is being produced to feed the nation,” they said.