2-day rainfall submerge houses in Makurdi communities

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Several houses, including churches, schools, eateries and bars in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, have been submerged by floods following a two-day heavy downpour.

The heavy rains which fell for over eight hours Sunday night and continued in the early hours of yesterday, resulted in flooding houses around the Methodist Church, Owner Occupier Estate in George Akume way, New GRA, Radio Benue, Nyiman layout, Idye and Naka road areas among other places.

The flood also affected other areas including Achusa, North Bank area, Ankpa Quarters, Tilley Gyado- Terwase Agbadu, Wurukum, Wadata and Behind Customary Court, damaging several goods and foodstuff.

Residents who spoke to our correspondent said residential buildings and eatery joints located around areas undergoing constructions and near riverbanks were worse hit as flood waters took over their streets and homes.

At the time of filing this report, motorists were experiencing heavy traffic along Otukpo Road due to the flooding as some adjourning streets particularly around Nze Oil became impassable.

Residents called on the state and federal government to hasten the ongoing roads and drainages constructions as they could no longer assess the streets, particularly during the rainy seasons.

Another resident who spoke to our correspondent commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for addressing the issue of perennial flooding by constructing new roads and drainages in some areas, but urged him, to immediately open some new streets and some of the channels blocked by the construction companies to give way for easy flow of water.

The resident who didn’t want to be named, said that the indiscriminate closure of those roads and streets have actually contributed to the flooding being experienced.

When contacted, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, said they have received information concerning flood in some areas.

Iorpuu who spoke through the Information Officer, Tena Ager, said “We have received report of flooding in Achusa area we they have not gone there for assessment.”