From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
A heavy downpour that lasted four hours has rendered homeless, many residents of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The rain which started late a few minutes to midnight on Saturday and lasted till about 4am Sunday left many houses in Wadata, Wurukum, Achusa, Zone 4, Nyiman layout, some parts of Naka Road and Gana all in Makurdi metropolis flooded.
Many high tension poles as well as fences to many business and residential buildings were also destroyed by the rains.
A resident of Achusa, Mr. Terna Iorsue who spoke to our correspondent lamented the level of destruction caused by the flood which he said, had rendered many people homeless.
“I am surprised that the rain which lasted only one night could cause this wanton destruction of property. The question now is where do we go from here.”
Meanwhile, State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Joseph Ustev when contacted on phone described the situation as terrible even as he said blockage of drainages was responsible for the flood.
He disclosed that officials of the ministry went round to monitor the situation early yesterday morning to report back to the state governor for immediate attention.
On his part, Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Boniface Ortese who noted that almost every part of Makurdi was affected by the flood said the state government may have to open internally displaced persons camps to accommodate those who have been displaced b the flood.