No fewer than 25 communities in Edo State, located along the banks of the River Niger, have been submerged by floods following the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
The affected areas include Etsako East, Etsako Central, and Esan South East Local Government Areas.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ojimah Christopher, the Desk Officer for Relief Materials and Distribution in Esan South East, confirmed the incident. As the Local Government Secretary of the Emergency Committee, he stated that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in the local government area is now filled with displaced residents.
Ojimah highlighted that some communities, particularly Ifeku, have been completely submerged, resulting in the loss of property and livestock.
John Odaku, a resident of one of the affected areas, lamented the destruction of farmlands and crops such as yam, cassava, and groundnut, which were swept away by the rising floodwaters.
He explained that the rapid rise in water levels exceeded that of last year, leaving them unable to save their belongings, crops, or livestock.
“We couldn’t salvage our crops and farm produce, and livestock as they were swept away by the ravaging flood,” Odaku said. He urged both the state and federal governments to intervene, acknowledging that the local government had been doing its best to help.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised affected residents to relocate to IDP camps to avoid casualties.
Dahiru Yusuf, Head of NEMA’s Benin Operations office, stated that the agency has been closely monitoring the flood situation in collaboration with state and local authorities.
He confirmed that they have visited the flood-prone areas in Etsako East, Etsako Central, and Esan South East to assess the preparedness of IDP camps, which are ready to accommodate more displaced people.
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