Flood Sacks Three Rivers Communities.

About 2,000 people have been displaced from three communities in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State by flooding after a heavy rain on Saturday.
Communities affected seriously by the downpour are Jankroma, Akinima and Obie, all in Ahoada West.



It was gathered that apart from the heavy rainfall, the release of water in phases from the Ladong Dam in Cameroon had forced an overflow of the Orashi River, a development that had rendered thousands homeless within the past three days.
An indigene of Akinima community, who identified himself as Abraham, explained that his community was the worst hit as the flood had rendered over 1,000 people homeless.

Abraham explained that over 50 building have been submerged while their farms have also been destroyed by the flood.
He called for an immediate intervention by government to save them from their current woes.

According to him, “About 50 buildings have been affected in Akinima. So far, not less than 1,000 people have been displaced in Akinima community. Our farms have been destroyed and crops washed away by the flood. We need an urgent intervention from the government.”

Speaking in the natural disaster, a former Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Mr. Ikechukwu Obusu, said the people were facing tough times as a result of the recent development in three communities in the area.

Obusu explained that the flood was severe in the communities that people abandoned their homes to save their lives, adding that the immediate need of the displaced persons are camps to stay and food to eat.

He said, “I feel very sad and unhappy. The people are suffering. A lot of those affected have left their homes and there is no help coming to them as I speak. I really share their pains. So, I will work tirelessly to ensure that they get some form of assistance.

“They need food and a place to stay. We have to activate a camp for those who have been displaced immediately. We must arrange temporary shelter for them as soon as possible. I hope a new caretaker committee chairman will soon be appointed so that he can take charge of the rescue operation.

“It is the duty and responsibility of the local government to give those affected some temporary abode. This is a challenge for the local government. I want to speak with the Head of Department and find out what measures he intends to put in place to cushion the effect of the flood on our people in the absence of a chairman in the council.”

One of the landlords in the area said the flood affected the ground floor of his one-storey building, even as he appealed to the state government to come to the rescue of those affected by the flood.

Also, a trader in Ahoada West Local Government Area, who gave his name as Lazarus, said, “My property are in three different places