THREE persons, among whom were two children, were feared dead, while houses and property worth millions of naira were washed away by flood at Kuruduma and Kobi communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The flood, according to the TribuneOnline’s finding, started around 1 pm, on Monday, inflicting pains and sorrow on residents of the affected communities who built and live along the water channels.
Investigations further revealed that two children were swept away in Kuruduma community, while a young man, said to be in his late 20s identified as Uche was carried away by the flood, while struggling to save his properties at Kobi village.
One of the witnesses, Ezekiel Kacha, told the TribuneOnline that the flood, which followed the downpour, had wreaked serious havoc on the affected communities.
A victim, who was a middle-aged man, and did not want his name in print, but claimed to be a lawyer, said he was a neighbour to late Uche whose corpse was recovered, on Tuesday, lamenting that he saw the former while struggling for survival but was overpowered by the flood.
He said he escaped death by the whisker, because his own house was already over flooded, but was rescued by well-spirited youths who braved the flood, came through the back of the house and broke the windows to pull him out.
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According to him, “I saw Uche, because his three-bedroom flat, completely erased by the flood is opposite my own house. He was standing aloof while I was shouting help, help when my house was flooded. It took the timely intervention of some youths who came through the back, broke the iron burglary proofs before pulling me out.
“I have lived in this place for two years, and have never seen this kind of flood. Uche initially came out of his house but rushed back, obviously to pick up something, unfortunately, the flood overpowered him, swept him and the plantain tree he clutched to, away,” he affirmed.
Another victim, Sarah Zakka, who was struggling to scoop water and mud out of her Chemist shop in the place, noted that the flood took them unaware, but however expressed gratitude that she survived.
She said her shop was submerged, destroying all the goods. She said her loss was not up to what a poultry operator in the area suffered. “The poultry was completely washed away with all the birds, goats and pigs,” Zakka disclosed.
While confirming the flood incident, the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s spokesperson, Emeka Iwuagwu, said that the agency had recovered one dead body after several hours of search through the water channels.
Iwuagwu also added that about three persons were rescued alive, immediately they received distressed calls and rushed to the communities.
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