A sudden surge in the water level of River Benue has left over 300
houses and huts submerged, with many families rendered homeless in
Makurdi, the state capital.
The unexpected flood, which also swept
away property and valuables worth millions of Naira, may have created a
major humanitarian crisis in the town and it’s environs.
Among
the worst hit areas are Wurukum, Wadata Rice Mill, Agboughoul, Kutcha
Utebe and Gydo Villa area settlements, while all the buildings that are
less than 500 meters from the shore of the river and those directly
behind the New Garage Road are also facing the prospect of going under
the fast rising river.
One of the victims and resident of Wadata
Rice Mill settlement, John Agboyi, said residents of the area were taken
aback by the unanticipated flood.
“Its strange, we went to bed
last night, only to wake up this morning to discover that flood water
has overtaken our homes and neighbourhood, all we did was to battle to
rescue some of our property from the fast rising flood water,” he said.
At
Kutcha Utebe where families were seen moving their property from their
homes, a resident, Terhile Fidelis, said the flood washed away most of
his property before he could mobilize enough support and help to move
them away.
He said: “My worry is that I do not have anywhere to
go to with my family at the moment. I just can’t understand why this
sudden rise in water levels cannot be adequately tackled by the
government.”
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Water Resources
and Environment, Mr. Nick Wende, on the issue failed as he did not pick
his calls nor reply to the message sent to his phone.
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