A catastrophic flood has struck parts of Ebonyi State, leaving at least eight people dead, dozens of buildings destroyed, and farmlands submerged in what residents describe as the worst disaster in recent years.
The tragedy occurred during the weekend in Enohia Itim, Afikpo Local Government Area, following a torrential downpour that triggered massive flooding.
The disaster swept through a plantain plantation and surrounding settlements, killing eight people including three children.
According to Francis Abani Okpani, Councillor representing Itim Ward, three bodies have been recovered while five remain missing. “We have lost children, we have lost farmers; this is a dark day for our community,” he lamented.
Afikpo LGA Chairman, Timothy Nwachi, expressed grief over the tragedy, offering condolences to bereaved families and promising government assistance.
Nwachi pledged to work with state and federal agencies to provide relief to victims and stressed the need for improved drainage systems to mitigate future disasters.
The impact of the flood extended beyond Afikpo. In Ekebeligwe Ishieke, Mbake Autonomous Community in Ebonyi LGA, residents counted heavy losses as the rains flattened over 20 homes in one section alone, washed away farms, and killed livestock including at least five cows.
Village head of Ekebeligwe Ishieke, Chief Lazarus Nwoyibe, told Nigerian Pilot that many displaced families, mostly widows and indigent residents, have taken refuge in primary schools, with relatives and neighbourhoods.
“Our people have lost everything — houses, crops, animals. No relief has reached us yet. We are in desperate need of help,” he said.
Other residents shared equally grim accounts. Ego-uwa Nwibo, Nwugwu Simon Nwenu and Nwangbo Nwovudu Nwebonyi, were among those whose homes were completely destroyed.
In Nduefi Ishieke, Sunday Nwibo, a farmer and electrician, reported the loss of livestock and extensive farmland damage.
Raymond Nwokpuru, a Ndu-Njoku Ekebeligwe Ishieke District Councillor confirmed that several villages, including Okum Ishieke and Okpoduma, suffered similar devastation.
Another eyewitness, Oluchi Nwugwu lamented the heavy downpour resulted in the flooding which submerged her shop that crippled business activities for complete three days, adding that "many places, not only farms, houses, and goods had been destroyed in the neighbouring communities, it affected commercial activities in the rural communities.
This incident came months after the Federal Ministry of Environment had listed Afikpo among Nigerian areas at high risk of flooding in 2025.
Meanwhile, with the climate change intensifying extreme weather events, Ebonyi residents have continued to express the fear that the coming months could bring even greater calamity if urgent preventive measures are not taken.
