From Tony Osauzo, Benin
No fewer than 12 communities, mostly in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo North senatorial district have been submerged by flood, following torrential rains resulting from the River Niger overflowing its banks.
Some of the communities mostly hit are Udaba-Ekphei, Anegbette, Ukpeko Orle, Ofukpo, Agbabu, Osomegbe, Udochi, Yelwa, Ake Island and Ifeku Island with residents fleeing as the water level in most of the communities has gone above the window level of their houses.
Besides, churches, mosques, markets, schools have all been taken over by flood water, just as agricultural produce like rice, cassava, vegetables, potatoes, groundnuts and others have been completely submerged by the floods.
Those who manage to move around, go in canoes and some of the residents said the flood is the worst they have had seen compared to that of 2012 which they considered as the worst.
The affected communities are calling on governments, at all levels, to come to their aid before they start losing their lives due to the devastating effects of the flood.
Speaking on the flood, Isaac Omaoka, from Udaba community, said: “My village is completely submerged. Since I was born, I have never seen such a thing. This year’s flood is 10 times that of 2012.
“We have a prominent son who built schools, a hospital complete with a mortuary, laboratory, x-ray and several amenities all of them now are under the water.”
Commenting on the flood, yesterday, Commissioner for Special Duties, Osasere Evboumwan, said: “We were in Etsako Central last Friday; myself, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), state emergency management agency, the head of local government administration, World Health Organisation and others. We are sending our report now to see how we can provide relief for them.
“Their farms have been taken away by water, every year, this flood comes and NEMA said the only solution to this is to dredge River Niger otherwise it will continue to occur…”