A flood in the Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State has displaced over 5,000 families, destroying a lot of properties.
Majority of the communities that was affected by the flood are communities close the River Niger and Analo River, which which overflowed their banks, submerging residential buildings, schools and farmlands. The residents were forced to vacate their homes, to seek refuge on higher grounds not affected by flood. Some of those affected raised wooden platforms above the water level to serve as their beds.
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Mr. William Iko-Ojo, who is the Chairman of Ibaji LGA Caretaker Committee, lead some officials of the council on an inspection tour of some of the areas that were affected by the flood.
He said: “The situation calls for urgent intervention, because Ibaji is totally submerged. From Onyedega, the council headquarters, up to Ujeh, down to the boundary, no structure is spared and unless the government comes to the rescue of the affected people the situation might degenerate into a major calamity.
“The local government is working hard to create Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, to resettle those rendered homeless, but their immediate need is food. The situation is so bad now, even the palace of the traditional ruler of Ibaji, Chief John Egwemi has been submerged.”
He called on the Governments to help the families that had fallen victim the the tragedy. People who were on the site of the scene talked about how farms had been washed away and travelers had to make use of speed boats as a means of transportation.
One of the victims affected by the flood, Mrs Agnes Apeh, a native of Onyedega, said, “many of us have lost our homes and belongings as the flood that ravaged our homes at night after a heavy downpour took us by surprise.
“We could not recover anything as everybody was running to safer places with their children. We are now sleeping on bare floor since we have no mattresses.
“It is so disturbing that we have continued to suffer on account of flooding every year, without a permanent solution. We lack everything in Ibaji. It is the only council area in Nigeria without electricity, asphalted road, functional hospital nor good schools, as if we are not part of Nigeria.”