Bayelsa govt sues for calm as flood hits 12 more communities

Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the number of communities affected had risen to 16, with 12 communities in five local government areas now affected.

Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

Flood has hit another 12 communities in five local government areas of Bayelsa State, bringing the total number of communities taken over by flood to 16.

On Sunday, four communities, namely Asamabiri, Elemebiri, Ekperiware and Adagbabiri, all in Sagbama Local Government area, were affected by flood.

READ ALSO: Flood hits 4 Bayelsa communities

However, in an update of the flood situation, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the number of communities affected had risen to 16, with 12 communities in five local government areas now affected.

According to him, latest report indicates that communities like Egwe-ama in Brass Local Government Area, Imiringi, Ayama, Otuobhi in Ogbia Local Government Area, Edwarie in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and Trofani in Sagbama Local Government Area have all been hit by the natural disaster.

Others he said are Ekeremor main town, Abukoegede in Tamogbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Kaiama and Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area and Anibeze Community in Sagbama Local Government Area.

The commissioner urged the people not to panic as the government is fully committed to their plights, and is doing everything to avoid a repeat of the 2012 flood incident, adding that the government is determined to ensure that no life is lost in the disaster that is currently ravaging the state. Iworiso- Markson called on residents of the state, who live in flood prone areas, to work with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other relevant agencies of government for immediate evacuation to temporal sites away from their homes.

Meanwhile, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson said the state government has concluded plans to honour the immediate past acting Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, for what he described as an exemplary national service “in recognition of his meritorious service to the nation, the state government will honour him at a grand reception soon.”