SOS TO GOVT AS FLOOD SACKS OVER 500 HOUSEHOLDS IN ANAMBRA COMMUNITY
REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The people of Akili Ogidi, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambr State have cried out for help from the federal and state government following the destruction of household effects and farmlands by ravaging flood.
According to them, the situation have forced over 500 households to scamper for safety as flood sacks them from their ancestral locations.
Apart from Ogbaru, some other local governments in Anambra State are in flood as Rivers Niger, Benue and other adjoining ones rise in water level.
Anambra East, Ayamelum, Ogbaru, Anambra West, part of Awka North and Onitsha North Local Government Areas are badly affected as at the time of filling this report.
Akiliogidi, a community in Ogbaru Local government area is among the over twenty towns being ravaged by the recent flood in the state.
Houses, farmlands, schools and health facilities are all covered while residents make efforts to guard their valuables from the ravaging flood.
An indigene of the area, Nneka Uzoka, recounted that the incident occurred in August after several days of downpour.
She expressed regret that the situation had forced many families out of their homes while pregnant women go as far as Onitsha to get healthcare services.
Another farmer, Mr. Sunday Obiora, who was seen harvesting his cassava prematurely, said he spent thousands of naira borrowed from a bank to farm the land only to lose all to the flood disaster.
Artisans are also not spared as Mr. Arinze Adigwe, a POP expert, recounted their ordeal even as he called for government intervention.
Some youths, who did not want their voices recorded, were angry with their representatives and government for remembering them only during electioneering.
They said they only needed speed boats to make ends meet as the flood waters had made land transportation almost impossible.
The President General of Akili Ogidi Community, Comrade Michael Chukwusa, revealed that over 500 houses have been submerged, making life unbearable for victims.
Comrade Chukwusa appealed to the federal and state governments to urgently come to their rescue as they could not even evacuate their farm produce.
While transiting on water to another flooded community, Radio Nigeria spoke with a young lady, Uchenna Peter, who returned from the city to help her mother manage the effects of the flood, which damaged most of their household effects.
She cried for help, especially for the sake of children and pregnant women, who could not move about easily in the flood water.
Meanwhile a team comprising of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, and the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant agencies have visited the area to get first hand information about the disaster.
The people earnestly wait for what they would do with the information gathered to ameliorate their sufferings.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
