From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
In the aftermath of a devastating rainstorm that wreaked havoc in Delta State, families are now grappling with the loss of their homes and possessions.
The storms began on April 3, in Boji-Boji Agbor, but the devastation escalated with further storms on April 15, striking the communities of Jeddo, Ughoton, and Ugbokodo within Okpe local government area. Homes were flattened by relentless winds, roofs were ripped off buildings, and many residents found themselves displaced.
In Ughoton, a resident, Grace Okafor, and her family stood among the debris where their home once stood.
“We never imagined something like this would happen,” she said, her voice shaky. “We’ve always had rains, but not like this. We are trying to salvage what little we can.”
With tears in her eyes, she explained how her children had lost their school supplies, and her husband’s small business had been swept away in the turmoil.
The impact on local infrastructure was devastating as well: schools, health centers, places of worship, and businesses were left in tatters.
On a recent visit to the affected areas, Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, expressed his concern about the devastation while emphasizing the importance of community resilience.
“While we cannot change what has happened, we can come together to rebuild and support one another. No life was lost, and for that, we are grateful,” he stated, noting that assessments were ongoing to determine how the government could assist.
The commissioner, who made an assessment tour of the level of the devastating impact left by the rainstorms in Jeddo, Ughoton and Ugbokodo communities, said: “The devastating effect is worrisome. However, no life was lost.”
He confirmed that in some areas, roofing sheets were seen entangled in power lines, while household items and building materials were strewn across compounds.
Jamani said: “We have assessed the situation at Ughoton. We are now at Ugbokodo. The devastating effect is worrisome. However, no life was lost.
“We have not been able to ascertain the number of houses affected. They are so many, worth millions. Worship centres and schools were affected.
“The Delta State government will do the needful but I cannot say 100% at the moment what the government will do.
“I am here as the commissioner for environment. The Okpe local government area chairman is here. The honourable member representing Okpe in the State House of Assembly is also here. The commissioner for secondary education sent the CIA.
“So, we are here for on-the-spot assessment. We will put a report together and take it to the governor of Delta State.”
Some of the residents shared stories of hope even as they surveyed the damage. “We may have lost our homes, but we still have each other,” said Samuel, a father of three, who spent hours helping neighbours sift through their belongings. “We will rebuild together. This is our home, and we will not let it be taken from us.”
While the Delta State government has acknowledged the severity of the situation and the need for disaster management, many in the community await tangible help, voicing their hope for swift action. Local leaders, like Councillor Christopher Ejoh, are working closely with residents, stating: “The destruction is overwhelming, but we are committed to ensuring that every voice is heard and every need is met.”
An eyewitness claimed that almost all the houses in Ughoton and Ugbokodo communities were affected while only a few houses were impacted in parts of Jeddo community.
“No death was recorded, but no house was spared. The roof of Esezi Secondary School in Ughoton was removed and Glorious Christ Evangelistic Church building also in Ughoton was completely destroyed.
“We have not experienced rainfall that comes with hail for a period of over two decades. Some of our children have not seen something like this before. To them, it is something new. But, we never had it this bad in the past.
“The rainstorm caused significant damages to our houses and properties, and has impacted various aspects of our lives since yesterday. The government should come to our aid,” a resident of Ughoton lamented.
Residents displaced were seen moving their property soaked in the rain. Business owners were also seen moving their badly damaged wares. Property worth millions were destroyed.
Many residents are counting their losses over the devastating rain storms as cleanup efforts begin. The storm may have torn their homes apart, but it has also sparked a flame of hope that no rainstorm can extinguish. They hope that the state government would send relief materials and other aids to them to mitigate the effects of the flood.
After the first rainstorm on April 3, the state Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, following the Agbor incident, urged residents, stakeholders and organizations to take collective and proactive measures in mitigating the impact of natural disasters.
Recognizing the increasing threats posed by flooding, erosion, and other environmental hazards, the government emphasized the need for community engagement, preparedness, and sustainable practices to safeguard lives and property.
Carrying out an inspection tour of the affected areas, Aniagwu, urged residents to adopt environmentally friendly practices, adhere to safety guidelines, and work together in building a more resilient Delta State.
Aniagwu said: “Most of you saw and witnessed the very heavy downpour across the state and then the havoc it wreaked on some properties particularly vehicles and motorcycles in the Ika axis.
“I am sure it happened in other places but it wasn’t that devastating and we needed to address it for individuals to know what is expected of them even as government has continued to take actions to mitigate such occurrence.
“We are also happy that in Asaba the rain was also quite heavy but we did not see that level of disturbance. We have before now as a government been able to pay good attention to flood control measures.
“I am happy that all of you are very much aware of it that for majority of the roads we have constructed we ensure that we have dual drains.
“In some instances we have proceeded to build storm drainages. You are also very privy to the fact that this administration have also continued along that trajectory.
“Not long ago, you accompanied the governor to inspect the storm drainage across the Ogbeogonogo Market which is one of the eight phases of the outcome of a study that was carried out by the previous administration.
“Some of you also accompanied us to area behind the Asaba Specialist Hospital where you also saw a very huge drainage and another storm drainage.
“You are aware of the effort to complete the storm drainage in the Owa-Alero axis and the storm drainage we are building in the Osubi, Okuokoko, Ugolo-Okpe and the Warri axis in addition to the many side drains that we are building along the roads that we are constructing.
“But what we have seen in the course of time as a challenge which we have continued to also emphasize the need for people to become much more responsive and responsible in preventing flood.”
The commissioner sympathized with those whose motorcycles or vehicles were either destroyed or swallowed by the flood.
The commissioner further said: “Sometimes, these things happen. I am sure in April last year all of you could recall what happened in Dubai. Of course, you cannot see it was because they are not developed or they have not taken pain to control flood.
“You also remember sometime around October last year and November in Spain where flash flood even took away cars and swept away buildings.
“I am mentioning very advanced societies so that those who may want to now begin to take political advantage rather than joining us to seek ways of addressing these issues so that you don’t allow them to paint pictures that are at variance with reality.
“For quite a long time now as an administration, we have emphasized the need for our people to be very environmentally conscious.
“Today, you see a number of persons when they come out from their homes they heap refuse inside these drains, hoping that the flood water would help to convey such debris to a natural water course.
“By the time you do that, you have also undermined the current capacity of that water channel to the estuaries and tributaries that feeds into these storm drainages.
“These tributaries that come from different shorter streets, smaller roads, have also been seriously undermined by human factors, even when government have spent billions of Naira building and constructing these drains.
“If you move out, you will see across different places how individuals are undermining the carrying capacity of the drains that were built by heaping refuse in these drainages.
“When they do so, like it’s often said, water must find its level. The moment you have undermined the capacity of a particular drain, it means that that water, in an attempt to find its level, will now take through certain courses, other than the ones that have been provided to channel the water.
“That is part of what happened in Agbor yesterday. It is true that the rainfall was quite intense, and such things could happen once in a while, thereby possibly outsmarting the capacity of the available drains.
“But those drains are big enough, over the years they have been able to accommodate water flow, but because a number of the tributaries that feed into these bigger drains have been seriously undermined by the activities of our people. Hence you now see the water that would have flown through these smaller drains, that have been channeled to empty into these bigger drains, finding its way to the road itself.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has disclosed that it has not been able to ascertain the total number of houses affected by the tragic rainstorm that ravaged Jeddo, Ughoton and Ugbokodo communities in Okpe local government area.
Director of SEMA in the state, Mr. Karo Ovemeso, said that the level of damage left by the rainstorm is overwhelming and that assessment is still ongoing so that everyone affected by the natural disaster could be well captured.
He said: “We went there yesterday and we have started assessing the level of wreckage left in the wake of the rainstorm. We have not been able to ascertain the total number of houses affected. The assessment is still ongoing. The level of damage is overwhelming.
“When we do assessment, we report to the government. The State government sent a high-level delegation to the affected communities. So, there should be an immediate action.
“There is no way the government will send a delegation to the affected communities if there are no plans to take actions. With the delegation sent to the communities, you should know the state government’s level of readiness and the importance the government places into that disaster by sending such high-level delegation to that place.
“Because of the level of damage done, the assessment is not what we will hurry through. This is so that we will be able to capture everyone that is affected by the natural disaster so that we do not have issues of leaving some people out.”