Flood destroys 60 houses, displaces 300 in Ebonyi

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PDP guber candidate, Odii, donates N5m to victims

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By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki

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ABAKALIKI — No fewer than 60 houses have been destroyed and about 300 residents displaced by flooding in Amaegbu, Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

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The flooding, triggered by torrential rainfall that began on Tuesday, also destroyed farmlands and other property estimated at millions of naira.

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One of the victims, Chief Michael Uzor, said his farmlands, television sets, vehicles, certificates and other valuables were destroyed.

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“Many houses were destroyed in this axis and more houses are collapsing as a result of the flooding.

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“In this particular place, Ndi Ibezeukwu, over 20 houses fell due to the flood water that soaked the houses since Tuesday when the rain started,” he said.

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Uzor appealed to the government at all levels to assist the victims, saying many residents, including children, had been displaced by the disaster.

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Another victim, Mrs Joy Chikezie, said several houses were destroyed in her area of the community.

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“As you can see, many houses are down here. You can’t count the number of houses that have been destroyed by this disaster.

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“We are homeless now and our farmlands have been destroyed too. The losses are enormous. We are sad, we are helpless, we need assistance,” she said.

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The Secretary of Amaegbu community, Prince Ette, said more than 50 houses had been destroyed in the community.

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Ette appealed for assistance to alleviate the suffering of the victims.

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“We are devastated, we are in pains because the damage the flood caused us is much. Some people didn’t salvage any item from the disaster,” he said.

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Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the state, Chief Ifeanyichukwuma Odii, has donated N5 million to victims of the flood.

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Odii made the donation through the state chairman of the party, Chief Chukwuma Igwe, who represented him during a visit to the affected community.

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Igwe said the donation was intended to provide immediate relief to the victims and added that Odii would draw the attention of relevant government agencies to the situation.

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“We came to tell you that what happened to you also happened to us, we are all affected by this disaster.

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“We have over 54 families affected by this disaster in this axis and we know that there are other families in other places in the community also affected.

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“Our principal, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, has given us this token to give to you people, to show you that what happened to you also happened to him. He will do more for you,” he said.

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Also speaking, the PDP candidate for Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency, Chief Felix Igboke, described the flooding as unfortunate.

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Igboke said improved drainage and other environmental measures could help prevent similar incidents, adding that such measures would be pursued if the party came into power.

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