- 1, 500 residents displaced
Following a week-long downpour that caused massive flood in many communities of Benue State, the state Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has called on the Federal Government to assist his administration with funds and other logistics, to save his people from disaster.
The flood, which affected virtually all communities in the state, lasted from August 22 to September 2, during which many houses were submerged and properties worth billions of naira lost in the process.
As the state is still battling to recover from the shock and pains caused by the massive flood, officials of both the state and federal emergency agencies are still computing losses
As the state is still battling to recover from the shock and pains caused by the massive flood, officials of both the state and federal emergency agencies are still computing losses.
Unconfirmed reports also indicated that no fewer than five lives were lost to the week-long deluge.
Reacting to the disaster, Governor Ortom who went round virtually all the affected areas, said, “I am calling on the Federal Government to come to our aid, with a view to augmenting the state government’s efforts towards rehabilitating these displaced people.”
He quickly swung into action by establishing refugee camps in Markurdi, the state capital, as well as doing an on-the-spot assessment of the devastation caused by the flood.
Also, the governor ensured that adequate and needed logistics were provided for the victims at the various refugee camps, which are New International Market and LGEA Primary School, Wurukum.
At the last count, from the population of inmates at the refugee camps, about 1,500 persons had been displaced.
However, some of the flood victims at the camps, who spoke with The Point, expressed displeasure at the feeding facilities provided by the officials of Benue State Environmental and Management Agency, accusing them of diversion of foodstuffs meant for them.
One of them, who simply described herself as Mrs. Elizabeth, said, “We are being fed once a day, in spite of surplus of food items in their kitty, meant for the wellbeing of the refugees”.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tar Ukoh, a musician, whose house is still submerged, occasioned by the flood, has lambasted the then administrations of Governors George Akume and Gabriel Suswam respectively, “for their insincerity to the citizenry.”
“You can imagine that these two leaders got huge money from the World Bank and even from the Cameroonian government for the provision of a drainage system to prevent this unfortunate disaster, but the money was diverted into private pockets.
“Supposing these amenities were provided for the control of erosion and construction of drainage systems, this unfortunate phenomenon couldn’t have taken place. But you can see the rate of havoc visited on the innocent inhabitants,” Ukoh lamented.
Since the incident occurred, the Federal Government and other eminent Nigerians have reportedly sent relief items to victims, donating bags of rice, mattresses, zinc, cement and other household materials to cushion the agony faced by the victims.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who visited the victims to assess the spate of devastation at the two refugee camps, also pledged that the Federal Government, in no distant future, would commence the rechanneling of drainages which should have served as tributaries to River Benue, to avoid a recurrence.
He reiterated the readiness of the Federal Government towards ensuring that lives and properties of every Nigerians are protected.
Other eminent Nigerians who visited the camps and donated to the victims include the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja; music icon, 2Face Idibia and former Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa.
