By Cajetan Mmuta
Residents of the riverine communities in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra state have fled their homes as flood sacks the area.

An estimated three hundred families have so far been displaced and many buildings submerged due to the flood disaster that affected more than 13 communities.

Investigations showed that this year’s havoc also sacked many schools, churches and markets while farmlands and crops have been ravaged.

The ugly situation has worsened the plight of people and residents of the communities across the local government area while there is an imminent state of famine due to millions of naira worth of farm crops washed away by the flood.

A former member of the House of Representatives and 2023 candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for House of Reps in Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene has called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to come urgently to the rescue of the people of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra state, over the flood disaster in the area.

He attributed the flood disaster to the overflow of the River Niger and continuous heavy downpour in the riverine local government area.

According to Ogene, hundreds of houses, farms and other businesses in Ogbaru, have been swallowed by the horrendous flood, leaving many people in agony, sorrow, tears and hopelessness.

Ogene named some of the affected communities as Ogwu Ikpele, Akili Ogidi, Obeagwe, Ossomala, Umunankwo, Ogbakuba, Ochuche, Akili Ozizor, Atani, Ohita and Odekpe.

Other areas devastated by the ravaging flood include Amiyi, Iyiowa, Ogbeukwu, Okoti and parts of Okpoko.

The ex-lawmaker who paid a visit to the area said, “It is pathetic. It is a terrible sight in Ogbaru as a result of the flood disaster. The human and environmental conditions here are absolutely pathetic and require urgent action from the government in order to alleviate the sufferings of the despondent victims, most of whom have lost all their belongings to the flood disaster.”

He noted that “these flood victims that cut across several communities, urgently need relief materials and other assistance from government and its agencies, such as NEMA and SEMA.”

He called on these agencies to rise up to their responsibility and bring urgent succour to the people of Ogbaru, who are currently besieged by flooding, so as to avert the outbreak of health challenges associated with such incidents.

Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa undergoes surgery

Also, worst hit by the flood are the Ogwuikpele and Akali Ogidi communities that are located at the fringe of the River Niger.

At the moment, the villagers and residents in those communities are living at the mercy of mother nature.

President General of Ogwuikpele community Mr Madupuo Sunday Victor in an interview with newsmen said, “As it stands now a lot of homes have been lost and several families have relocated and the number is more than three hundred based on the ones we can easily remember”

He pointed out, “We are living very close to the River Niger and it has overflown it’s banks and this is just the beginning and we do not have any Internally Displaced Camps where these people can stay”

“We need medical attention and we also need relief materials because the children and nursing mothers are now vulnerable to all kinds of diseases; he said.

President General of Akiri- Ogidi community Comrade Micheal Chukwuse described the menace as one that has caused untold hardship to the people in the area.

“We call on both the federal and state government to come to our help at the moment because we do not have the presence of the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA and the State Emergency Management Agency SEMA cannot shoulder the responsibility alone”

Don’t capture police new intake without an appointment letter, PSC warns FG agencies

“What we are facing in our community is one that has left us helpless and hopeless to a point that hunger and if not starvation is dealing with our people because of the flood,” he said.

Other communities affected include Atani, Osamala, Umu- Uzu that are also residing at the coastal lines of Niger.

The State Commissioner for Environment Mr Felix Odumegwu said the state government has commenced inspection and understudy of the affected communities adding that soon the Internally Displaced Camps would be established for the victims.

He said, “Flooding is an act of nature and it is a natural disaster but we started early to carry out awareness campaigns before the flood and we are currently interfacing with the NEMA and our own SEMA to assist flood victims ”

Odumegwu stated that Medical Teams have been deployed to the affected communities to assist the victims.