A sudden surge in the water level of River Benue has left over 300
houses and huts submerged, with many families rendered homeless in
Makurdi, the state capital.
The unexpected flood, which also swept away property and valuables worth
millions of Naira, may have created a major humanitarian crisis in the
town and it’s environs
Among the worst hit areas are Wurukum, Wadata Rice Mill, Agboughoul,
Kutcha Utebe and Gydo Villa area settlements, while all the buildings
that are less than 500 meters from the shore of the river and those
directly behind the New Garage Road are also facing the prospect of
going under the fast rising river.
One of the victims and resident of Wadata Rice Mill settlement, John
Agboyi, said
residents of the area were taken aback by the unanticipated
flood.
“Its strange, we went to bed last night, only to wake up this morning
to discover that flood water has overtaken our homes and neighbourhood,
all we did was to battle to rescue some of our property from the fast
rising flood water,” he said.
At Kutcha Utebe where families were seen moving their property from
their homes, a resident, Terhile Fidelis, said the flood washed away
most of his property before he could mobilize enough support and help to
move them away.
He said: “My worry is that I do not have anywhere to go to with my
family at the moment. I just can’t understand why this sudden rise in
water levels cannot be adequately tackled by the government.”
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Water Resources and
Environment, Mr. Nick Wende, on the issue failed as he did not pick his
calls nor reply to the message sent to his phone