We have Nowhere to go: Pain, anguish of Benue flood victims

A torrential rain, a few days ago, left behind pains and sorrow for residents of Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Although the Nigerian Meteorological Agency had early this year predicted possible flood in some states of Nigeria, Benue State inclusive, residents did not take the prediction serious. Despite such attitude, the agency kept alerting relevant authorities to hit the ground running and make adequate preparations for flood prevention and disaster mitigation. Such precautionary measures expected to be taken included but not limited to building and expansion of drainages. There were to be cleared and people living in flood-prone areas were expected to have been relocated.

The repeated warning by the agency and the disastrous history of flooding with its attendant repercussion should have moved the relevant authorities in providing temporary accommodation both for would-be victims and the entire sacking of settlements built on flood-prone areas. Unfortunately, nothing was done to arrest the situation. It will be recalled that in 2012, the state witnessed devastating flood which destroyed property worth several billions of naira and thousands of people displaced.

Unlike in 2012 when the flood was caused by the combination of excess rainfall and release of water from Ladjo  dam in Cameroon which made the River Benue to overflow causing heavy destruction among the communities  along the bank of the river, this year’s flood was caused by prolonged rainfall which made free flow of water apparently difficult due to illegal structures built along water channels and blockage of drainages.

Incidentally, the recent flood since penultimate Sunday continued to wreak havoc in Media Village Achusa, Zone 4, Wurukum, Nyinma, Ghana and part of Mobile Barracks along Naka road, all in Makurdi metropolis. Media Village was the creation of the former governor George Akume. The intention of his administration was to have an area specifically meant for media professionals in the state. As lofty as the idea is, the location is not suitable for middle class professionals because the area is waterlogged with no drainages.

Sources told our correspondent that flooding in the Makurdi metropolis would have been long averted if the contractor handling the erosion control project awarded to it in 2000 had concluded the job. The N2.2 billion project through ecological fund, according to sources, was awarded under the George Akume administration to open up water channel from Wurukm -Achusa down to Wadata and empty into River Benue. Though governor Ortom who was confronted with the issue during an inspection tour of the affected areas on Monday said the matter was being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Narrating his ordeal, George Okoh, a journalist, bemoaned what he is faced with. “We woke up to find our houses (residents of the area) completely submerged. Mother luck was the saving grace that we survived the flood. Many journalists in the Media Village lost their properties worth several millions of naira,” he said.

In his own account, Henry Iyorkase, another journalist, said that there was no inkling that the rain which started about 12 midnight would render them homeless “because it started lightly only to snowball into a downpour that lasted till around 4am on Sunday.

‘”Before long, the whole area had been submerged. The water was gushing into the living room and other rooms. How we survived the flood remains a miracle. Thank God no life was lost but as I speak with you, my vehicles are still trapped because the water is receding slowly.”

One of the worst hit is the correspondent of the Guardian newspaper, Joseph Wantu whose area was completely buried in the water. The family of 12 is now scattered as members have taken refuge in homes of relatives within the capital city.

Also speaking, a resident at Nyinma, Madam Rose Terna  told Nigerian Tribune that the rain started few minutes before midnight and  that she only woke up to see he whole compound flooded. According to her, “I remember that it started raining a few minutes before midnight on Saturday but somehow I slept off only to wake when I felt like using the toilet around 3.am. I discovered that it was sill raining.

“By the time I walked to the living room, I was shocked to see that the whole place was flooded. I had to wake my husband up. We packed all the electronic gadgets out of the living room.”

It was an agony for residents of Atusa who said they were woken up by the downpour knowing fully that the area was prone to flooding.

“Anytime there is a downpour like the one that occurred early this morning, there is always a sleepless night for us. You can see the whole area flooded now. We appeal to the state government to do something about this,” one of the victims stated.

Besides the aforementioned victims, official report from the State Emergency Maintenance Agency (SEMA) said about 110,000 persons in 24 communities, including Makurdi, have been displaced by the flood in the state. The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mr. Boniface Ortese, who disclosed this on Wednesday said over 2,769 households were also affected.

He explained that places affected included Achusa, Idye, Wurukum Market, Genabe, Industrial Layout, Demekpe, Wadata Market, Katungu, behind the Civil Service Commission, Agboughul-Wadata among others in Makurdi.

“In Achusa, 200 houses were affected with 5,125 persons displaced. In Idye, 217 houses with 5,200 persons displaced. Also, behind the Civil Service Commission, 200 houses were submerged in flood and 5,777 persons were displaced.

“At Genabe, 200 houses were affected with 5,021 persons displaced, 218 houses around the Wurukum Market were affected with 1,000 persons displaced, and at Wadata Market, 150 houses were affected and 4,300 persons were displaced.

“Similarly at Industrial Layout, 69 houses were flooded and 4,310 persons displaced; Demekpe 111 houses were affected while 7,820 persons displaced,’’ the official said.

Mr. Ortese further said that 137 houses were flooded in Katungu, with 6,031 persons displaced, while at Agboughul-Wadata, 201 houses were affected and 5,728 persons displaced.

Already a camp has been opened for victims of the flood in the state at International Market along George Akume road. Since the tragedy broke out, the camp has been besieged by donors giving out relief materials.

However, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the problem of flooding which has rendered many residents of Makurdi, the state capital, homeless. The governor said the problem of flooding has arisen at the time his administration was facing challenges of salary payment and called on those living in flood-prone areas across the state to relocate.

He directed SEMA to liaise with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the purpose of assisting displaced persons just as he also directed that excavators should be used to create emergency water channels pending the Federal Government’s intervention. He specifically requested the Federal Government to consider the release of ecological funds to Benue, maintaining that if urgent steps are not taken, the sad experience of 2012 may repeat itself.

Ortom frowned at the building of houses on drainage channels and flood plains and noted that such structures would have to be demolished. He said government expects that people should have valid papers for their buildings and remarked that those without such papers should be ready to face the demolition exercise.

You may also like:

Nigerians should expect more floods —Climatologist

Flood Alert: NCF calls for urgent action