Flood has submerged no fewer than 33 communities in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo state. The development has rendered uncountable many people in the affected areas homeless.
The 33 affected communities include Abacheke Community, with 14 villages, namely: Ogbedeyi, Ogboru, ohaji-Egbema,Okishikpa, Umudeyiezege, Umueze, Umuezukwefi, Umulakpu, Umuogrinya and Umuojioke. Other communities are Mmahu, Abaeze, Umuoji, Obeakpu, Obiakpu, Etekwuru, Obokofia, Mgbara, Oforola, Umudike, Ekugba, Opuoma, Okwuzi, Mgbede, Aggah, Uzuagbai, Iyomikwu, Iberu.
Others are: Eyoka, Ukpa, Edekamagha, Bridge Ogboru, Nwamjuamuyi, Tumali, Abaraukwu, Olutu, Olubumuocha, Ugutu, Otuocha, Okemgabaga, Iyonminta and Utuogo.
The people of the affected communities spoke to journalists during a tour of the communities in the company of the Coordinator of the Egbema North Development Area, Obinna Ariaga, and officials from the National Emergency Management Agency and appealed to both the Federal and State governments to, as a matter of urgency, come to their aid.
The traditional ruler of Abacheke, Ikeji Bright, who decried the development, said his people were predominantly farmers.
The monarch said, “Government should assist us. We need urgent assistance such as food items, clothing, mosquito nets and other relief materials.
“We need government intervention as soon as possible. Our governor should find a lasting solution to the flood by ensuring that Oguta Lake and Urashi River are dredged as he disclosed recently, and also dredge the two rivers in this area.”
Ariaga disclosed that the communities affected by the flood are now using boats to evacuate human beings and property from their houses to dry land.
He added that the flood had led to the loss of farmlands, plantations and fishing ports in the communities.
A Commissioner in the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Goodluck Dioke, bemoaned the flooding of the communities and described it as a monumental disaster.
While calling on NEMA to come to the rescue of the communities, he gave the assurance that the Imo State Government would come to the rescue of the communities.
Copyright PUNCH
