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…Residents appeal for immediate intervention by govt, NEMA, donor agencies
From Uchenna Inyang, Abakaliki
The agrarian community of Enu Uburu Autonomous Community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and economic catastrophe following torrential rainfall between September and October 2026. Many residential buildings submerged, fences pulled down and vast economic infrastructure devastated.
In a statement, the Chief Media Officer, Enu Uburu Autonomous Community Town Union (EUACTU), Mr Joseph Chukwu, stated that many families have been rendered homeless and over 5000 hectares of farmlands destroyed, causing monumental havoc in the area. The community, therefore, appealed to the state and federal governments for immediate intervention.
The statement reads: “Our community as shown in the attached visual images have seen residential compounds, homes, and utility poles heavily engulfed by rising murky floodwaters, turning thriving village landscapes into vast lakes. The hardest hit is the agricultural backbone of the community, plunging local farmers into profound despair.
“This disaster has brought: massive agricultural destruction: Approximately 5,000 hectares of flourishing rice farms have been completely submerged and washed away by the relentless floodwaters.
“Staggering financial loss: The total estimated economic loss to agricultural investments surpasses N12.5 billion, wiping out the entire season’s harvest, loans, and life savings of hardworking farmers.
“Numerous residential homes have been swallowed by the flood, forcing families out of their property and exposing vulnerable women and children to severe hardship.
“This disaster threatens not only the food security of farmers and residents of our community, but the very survival of our people.
“Enu Uburu is resilient, but the sheer scale of a N12.5 billion loss far exceeds local capacity. We implore all tiers of government, public-spirited individuals, and corporate bodies to treat this cry with the utmost urgency it deserves.”
In response to this monumental emergency, the Enu Uburu Autonomous Community Town Union is issuing a clarion call for immediate assistance:
1.Appeal to the Federal, State, and Local Governments: We urgently appeal to the Federal Government, the Ebonyi State Government under the leadership of Governor Francis Nwifuru, and the Ohaozara Local Government Council to swiftly deploy agricultural support funds, specialized grants, and input recovery packages to help our farmers return to the land.
2. Call to NEMA: We urgently call on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to rise to the occasion by dispatching emergency relief materials—including food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter—to cushion the immediate effects of this crisis.
3. Call International Agencies and NGOs: We are making an urgent plea to international donor agencies, humanitarian organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to come to the aid of the Enu Uburu community to curtail imminent humanitarian casualties and support rehabilitation efforts.
Enu Uburu is resilient, but the sheer scale of a N12.5 billion loss far exceeds local capacity. We implore all tiers of government, public-spirited individuals, and corporate bodies to treat this cry with the utmost urgency it deserves.
