Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has carried out inspection of communities sacked by flood in Makurdi with a call on the federal government to dredge the River Benue.
Ortom who returned on a journey from Abuja Wednesday afternoon, visited some communities along the bank of River Benue including Kucha Utebe on Gboko road, Rice Mill in Wadata among other areas.
Ortom stated that the “River Benue is now shallow and when there is excess rainfall or a release of water from the Ladgo Dam in Cameroon, you will see it overflowing its bank.”
He noted that the state has witnessed more rainfall this year which stretched beyond what it used to be in the past and pleaded with the federal government to dredge the river as the only permanent solution to flooding in the state.
“Truely, if the river was deep enough, you won’t see this flooding but as it is, unfortunately, hundreds of people have already been displaced from their homes and I pray that this water will receed instead of increasing.”
Ortom lamented that the state is already challenged with humanitarian problems adding that “we are still struggling to contend with the herdsmen attacks though some of the IDPs have returned, but if this continues, we will have no options than to open another camp for people to live in.”
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He lamented that many families have been displaced and property have been destroyed, hence the need to put a permanent stop to flood in Benue.
The Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Emmanuel Shior said a lot of local governments; Makurdi, Logo, Ukum, Guma, Katsina Ala, Buruku, Agatu among others have been affected and many communities flooded.
Shior said “homes, houses, and farms and properties worth billions of naira have been destroyed and we are still counting and taking inventory from our desk officers.
He added that Gov. Ortom has asked him to speak with the Federal Government through NEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. We are discussing with Christian Aid International as well as other partners who are preparing intervention for the victims.
According to him, the Makurdi International market is also being prepared to house the IDPs.
During the inspection, our correspondent observed that the water level has increased and more residents are equally displaced.
Some of the residents were seen with their belongings on their head while some laugages were seen on the street. Others were also seen using canoe to access their homes.
Residents who spoke to our correspondent, Mrs. Kumam Chia, Livinus Kwaghngu and the District Head of Wadata, Samuel Asema lamented the yearly flooding of their communities and called on the federal government to assist Benue in dredging the River Benue to put a permanent end to the perenial flood in the state.
