Flood Sacks Ogbakuba Community Ogbaru Council Area, Submerges Houses, Farms, Others

People of Ogbakuba Community in Ogbaru Council Area are counting their losses as flood submerges more areas and displaces more residents.

According to the ABS team that visited the area, water level has continued to rise and all access roads in the area have been covered while canoes have become major means of transportation in the area.

the flood submerged houses, business premises, farms and institutions including Community Primary School Ogbakuba and the Teacher’s quarters, Nkwo Ogbakuba Market, Palace of the traditional ruler of the community and quarters of the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Environment among others.

The team also saw heaps of tubers of yam, cassava and potatoes along the road, some of them prematurely harvested while some families were seen peeling cassava tubers possibly to make the best out of the unfortunate situation.

It was also observed that various parts of the Uga junction-Atani-Ogbakuba-Ossomala-Ogwuikpele road have equally been submerged, making movements in and out of the area difficult.

In his reaction, one of the persons displaced at Ogbakuba Community, Chief Fidelis Afuberoh lamented that the flooding has grounded socioeconomic activities in the entire area while the community has suffered huge economic losses running into billions of naira and sources of livelihood of members of the community have been destroyed.

Chief Afuberoh said many houses have also collapsed and more are still likely to collapse because of the effects of the flooding and appealed to the federal and state governments to extend immediate intervention to the community to cushion the effects of the disaster.

Another displaced, Chief Joseph Odili while thanking God that no life was lost, noted that the community being one of the food baskets of the state and country needs support of government to continue their farming activities to prevent food scarcity and hunger.

Chief Odili explained that the leadership of the community has sustained efforts in evacuating those trapped in some parts of the community by the flood to safety and urged parents to ensure strict protection of their children.