Flood sacks thousands, submerges homes in Bayelsa, A’Ibom, C’River

Residents in Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States in South South region have cried out over rampaging flood that has sacked thousands and submerged over 200 homes.

In Bayelsa state alone, flood submerged over 20 communities and displaced thousands of families in the predominantly riverine Bayelsa State, while 60 houses were submerged in Cross River state, yesterday.

The situation is gradually assuming a worrisome, especially in communities along the bank of the River Niger and its tributaries, River Forcados and River Nun, Ikole Creek, Epie Creek and others that traversed, Sagbama, Ekeremor, Kolokuma-Opokuma, Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw and Ogbia council areas.

Most of the low lying areas of Tombia, Ekpetiama, Akenfa, Agudama, Akempai, Edepie, Etegwe, Opolo, Biogbolo, Azikoro, Agbura, Amarata, Onopa and Ovom communities in Yenagoa council area of the have been submerged by flood, leaving thousands of families displaced.

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Also parts of Elebele, Imiringi, Emeyal, Kolo, Otuoke, Ayama Ogbia, Onuebum, Otuokpoti in Ogbia local government council are currently under water forcing some of the affected victims to relocate to dry areas while others have stayed backed to brave the odd and watch over their valuables because of the fear of their home being pillaged by marauders.

Adagbabiri, Trofani, Anibeze, Tongbabiri and others along the bank of the Forcados River are also facing the worst of this year rising flood.

Residents of the affected areas now access their houses by canoes.

Speaking on the sad development, a resident of Akenfa surbub of Yenagoa, Mrs. Edaere Lawson said the flood had rendered almost all the the residents homeless noting that over 100 houses were sacked with no fewer than 2000 persons affected.

Another victim, Mr. Raymond Dakeyi, lamented that flooding had become an problem in the area and accused successive administrations in the state of being insensitive to their plight.

He said: “without sounding immodest the governments have not been fair to us over the years. They have abandoned us, all that matters to the politicians is the forthcoming governorship election. I have since moved my family to my cousin’s place pending when normalcy returns.

“It will be suicidal leaving the children in such horrible environment and exposed to dangerous reptiles such as snakes and others.

“We need assistance from the government to mitigate our suffering,” Dakeyi added.