No fewer than 33 communities in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State were rendered homeless after last weekend’s heavy downpour.
According to a source in the area, some of the affected communities comprised Abacheke, Ogbedeyi, Ogboru, Okishikpa, Umudeyiezege, Umueze, Umuezukwefi, Umulakpu, Umuogrinya, and Umuojioke.
Others are :Mmahu, Abaeze, Umuoji, Obeakpu, Obiakpu, Etekwuru, Obokofia, Mgbara, Oforola, Umudike, Ekugba, Opuoma, Okwuzi, Mgbede, Aggah, Uzuagbai, Iyomikwu, Iberu, Eyoka, Ukpa, Edekamagha, Nwamjuamuyi, Tumali, Abaraukwu, and Utuogo.
Ohaji/Egbema is said not to be the only Local Government affected by the flood but also Oguta, a neighbouring council area.
Natives of the area who have appealed to the federal government to come to their aid have also expressed fears that an epidemic of waterborne diseases might occur if urgent steps are not taken.
A source from one of the communities disclosed that the flood might not be unconnected to the overflow of the Oguta Lake and Orashi river.
Speaking on the disaster, the traditional ruler of Abacheke, Eze Ikeji Bright, thanked the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their prompt response, but begged the agency to work out a palliative for his people who he said were predominantly farmers and fishermen.
The monarch regretted that many of his subjects are now refugees in their own communities due to the surging flood which submerged their houses and the only secondary school in the area.
Meanwhile, Team Leader and Principal Search and Rescue Officer of NEMA in Imo State, Innocent Nwaeze, after assessing the scene, described the situation as very severe and promised that their agency would put together a compressive report of their assessment to enable the Federal Government to come to the natives’ aid.
According to Nwaeze, “From what we have seen here there are going to be cases of a secondary emergency situation as a result of this flood incident. I advise the people of the affected communities to urgently evacuate from the affected areas and as well relocate their children to safer ground.”
He also advised the people of the communities to discontinue constructing new buildings in the area that are always submerged by floods to avoid wasting their hard-earned resources and risking lives in the future.
