How flood killed 23, displaced 116,084, destroyed 104 communities

OVER 23 people were killed by the raging River Benue in four local government areas of Benue State, while 74 others were seriously injured.

The  flood  also  forced  116,084  people  from  their  homes,  and  the  disaster  affected  12,856  households.

Dr.  Emmanuel  Shior,  Executive  Secretary  of  Benue  State  Emergency  Management  Agency,  SEMA,  made  the  announcement  yesterday  during  an  update  on  the  state’s  flood  situation.

Shior  stated  that  the  flood  affected  104  communities  in  11  councils,  including  Agatu,  Apa,  Tarka,  Gboko,  Gwer  West,  Logo,  Guma  Vandeikya,  Otukpo,  Katsina-Ala,  and  Makurdi.

He  stated  that  4,411  houses  had  been  submerged  in  the  affected  councils  so  far,  while  14,040  hectares  of  farmland  had  been  destroyed.

Shior explained that responders from the agency were still profiling more victims, lamenting that the state government was already overwhelmed by the situation. 

"We are already dealing with the displaced people from the armed Fulani herdsmen attacks and then this. It is obviously too much of a burden for the state government and we are already overwhelmed because the state government does not have the capacity to handle the situation. 

"We are appealing to the Federal Government, international and local humanitarian organisations and good-spirited individuals to come to our aid.  Already, we are, today, flagging off the distribution of thousands of bags of rice, cartons of noodles and other food and non food items. We are expecting more of the relief materials and as we procure, we distribute, but we are starting with Agatu, which is more devastated with major parts of the council submerged while the people are taking refuge on the road shoulders. We are also distributing in Makurdi," he said. 

Also, Principal Officer, Search and Rescue of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, John Digha said that his agency would provide food and non food items to support victims of the flood. 

He said the federal agency had already moved its mobile water treatment plant with the capacity of 2,000 litres of water per hour to the state to assist treat the already polluted water sources in the flooded communities.

Culled from Vanguard