The aftermath of a heavy downpour in Benue state is devastating as it has rendered thousands of people wandering and homeless. Houses numbering beyond 2000 have been submerged in different parts of Makurdi, the Benue State capital in the past one week.
According to reports by Benue.com, the areas affected by the heavy downpour are Inioungu community, Part of Rice Mill and New Garage all in Wadata as well as Kutcha Utebe, Behind Zone 4 and a host of others.
One of the victims of the tragedy Mr. Sylvester Adikwu, a retired civil servant whose four bedroom bungalow has been submerged disclosed that the flood suddenly came a few days back and consequently, many families have been displaced.
The retired civil servant was sighted together with his wife and children trying to remove their properties their home. He stated the shock that engulfed the entire state at the unexpected flood that destroyed swallowed their houses. Also, he explained that similar incident happened about three years ago when water was released from the Ladgo Dam in Cameroun.
Over 20 vehicles were seen buried in the flood at the garage of Pleasure Travel Transport Company, located opposite Benue Links Company on Gboko Road which was quite similar to the situation in other parks in other areas.
Some of the staff were seen evacuating their belongings from their offices after a machine was brought in to flush out the rampaging flood.
Reacting to the development, proprietor of the company, Dr. Paul Ubwa, called on the state government to accelerate the flood control.
However, the Parish Priest of a church in the area known as St. Joseph Quasi, Iniongu, Reverend (Fr.) Boniface Achobo while expressing the willingness of the church to house the affected members revealed that some of his congregation had earlier informed him that they have relocated to other areas of the state.
“Some of my parish members have called to inform me that they have had to relocate to other parts of the town because of the flood. That is why I quickly announced yesterday in the church that any member who wishes to take refuge in the church pending when the flood will subside can do so,” he said.
