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Patience Ogbodo-Iwuagwu

No fewer than four communities in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State have been ravaged by a devastating flood that displaced residents, destroyed household property, shops, goods, rice mills and farmlands.

The communities, where property worth millions of naira were destroyed, included: Mpu, Okpanku, Ndiabor and Oduma.

The flood, which began to expand following torrential rainfall on Sept. 20, got worsened on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 following more rainfall that also submerged parts of Afor Okpanku Market, Ivo River Bridge and adjoining roads.

Residents of these communities are currently making all efforts to evacuate and salvage their families and belongings to safer locations as heavy rainfall continued in the area even as time of filing this report.

Reacting, the Councillor representing Mpu Ward, Mr Edwin Ogbuka, described the situation as “life-threatening”, adding that several houses and farmlands had been affected.

Ogbuka, who called for urgent government intervention, attributed the flooding to the overflow of water from the abandoned Ivo River Dam project.

A community leader in Mpu community, Mr Dele Chukwu, said six villages in the community had been affected, with displaced residents taking refuge at Amachalla Town School.

Chukwu appealed to the government and relevant emergency agencies to urgently provide relief materials and other assistance to the victims.

Similarly, the Youth Leader of Okpanku community, Mr George Ahaefuna, described the disaster as unprecedented.

Ahaefuna said, “Since I was born, I have never seen this kind of flood in my life. The flood has destroyed all we have laboured for in the farm this year.

“It has destroyed our crops – rice, cassava and yam farms worth millions of naira. I am appealing to the Federal Government, Enugu State Government and Aninri Local Government to come to our aid.”

A shop owner at Afor Okpanku Market, Mrs Patricia Chukwu, said goods worth millions of naira had remained submerged in flood water for two days.

She said, “This development is devastating. This is the worst flood that has affected Okpanku in my generation.

“I urge the government, organizations and public spirited individuals to assist those whose houses, goods and farms were destroyed to rebuild their lives.”

Speaking, the Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, expressed concern over the disaster, saying flooding occurs twice yearly in some parts of the area due to the uncompleted Ivo River Dam Project.

Nwanjoku said that stakeholders were planning a joint visit to the Ivo River Dam to assess the reservoir and explore possible repairs to prevent further flooding.

“I felt sad the moment I heard about the incident. Most communities in Aninri have been submerged by flooding, such as Okpanku, Mpu, Uhuezeoke in Ndiabor and parts of Ezineshi in Oduma.

“Crops, houses and businesses were destroyed. We are assessing the situation to know the level of damage,” he said.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).