BY EDITOR
Not less than 134 families have lost their homes, farms and household property to a devastating flood that ravaged parts of Akaeze and neighbouring communities in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The flooding, which occurred on Wednesday, September 23, also submerged rice, yam and other farmlands, disrupted trading activities and rendered several residents temporarily homeless.
The Ebonyi State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chukwuma Igwe, who led a delegation to the affected communities, said the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, had released N5 million to provide immediate assistance to victims, noting that "so far, the affected families captured are not less than 134."
Igwe, who represented Odii during the visit, said N2 million would be given to affected residents in Akaeze, while the remaining funds would be deployed to other communities affected by the disaster.
He said the party had obtained a list containing the names of 54 affected families in Akaeze, adding that further assessments would be conducted in other communities to establish the extent of the damage.
“My people, I’m not happy. I don’t have to hide it. It’s a thing of tears that this kind of thing can happen at this time,” Igwe said.
He, however, stressed that the party’s intervention was not a substitute for government intervention, urging relevant authorities and emergency management agencies to respond to the situation.
“We are not in government yet. Our own is to condole with you and sympathise with you. The main intervention is supposed to come from the government,” he said.
Igwe also said the party would draw the attention of the Federal Government and relevant agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency, to the plight of the victims.
The PDP spokesman in Ebonyi State, Comrade Darlington Onwe, described the flooding as a major humanitarian disaster, saying the immediate assistance being provided by the party was only a demonstration of its concern for the affected communities.
Onwe said a more comprehensive intervention would be required to rebuild damaged homes, restore livelihoods and address the environmental factors responsible for the flooding.
Also speaking, the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ohanivo Federal Constituency, Engr Felix Ogbonna Igboke, said the delegation visited the communities on the directive of Odii to assess the damage and provide immediate assistance.
Igboke expressed sympathy with the victims and said the situation required urgent attention from government authorities and relevant emergency agencies.
At the community level, the Chairman of Amaegbu Umobo Akaeze, Abia Okoro Abia, said more than 54 victims had so far been identified in the area.
According to him, the flood destroyed houses and farmlands, including rice and yam farms, leaving several families in urgent need of assistance.
One of the victims, Ochude Chukwu, said his residence, popularly known as Udensi House in Amaegbu Umobo, was pulled down by the flood, while his rice farm and other family property were destroyed.
Chukwu, who said he had never experienced such a volume of floodwater since his childhood, disclosed that he had been forced to relocate with his wife and three children.
“I am calling on the government to come and help us and rescue my family from this situation,” he pleaded.
Another resident, Okechukwu Uwaezioke, said the flooding also paralysed vehicular and human movement around Ivo Agbaleka and adjoining communities.
He said the Ivo Market was flooded, preventing traders and residents from neighbouring villages from accessing the market.
“Even in the market, water entered inside. People from other villages could not come to the market. We need government help,” Uwaezioke said.
Similarly, Okpe Favour Chidinma said more than 20 houses were affected in her community, forcing some displaced families to rent alternative accommodation.
Another victim, Mr Irem Abia said he lost household property, including his wife’s belongings, bed, chairs and telephone, while his rice, potato and other crops were also destroyed.
The affected communities including Amaegbu Umobo, Umuowodo Ndiachi Umuobo Akaeze, Umuezaka Ezeukwu Akaeze, among others have consequently appealed to the Federal and Ebonyi State governments to urgently deploy relief materials, emergency assistance and technical intervention to the area.
The residents also called for measures to address the underlying causes of the flooding and prevent a recurrence, saying the immediate relief would only address part of the humanitarian crisis.
