Floods Sack Benue Communities, Jounalists’ Village

George Okoh in Makurdi

Several communities have been displaced with property worth millions of naira destroyed following heavy rainfall wednesday which has left many areas in Makurdi, the Benue State capital flooded.

Areas worse hit by the flood included Media Village, Achusa, Welfare Quarters Extension, Nyiman Layout, Wadata, Wurukum and Naka Road, among others.

An eyewitness said although no life was lost, yet some buildings collapsed while major roads were also submerged in water even as residents waded through the flood to safety.

A resident of Achusa community, Clement Okoh, told THISDAY that the rain started at about 1p.m. and lasted till around 5a.m.

“My car, house and other properties have completely been submerged
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Boniface Ortese, who disclosed that over 90,000 persons had been displaced in 26 areas of the metropolis, said Governor Samuel Ortom was already going round some of the affected areas to ascertain the level of destruction.

Others were Nyiman layout, behind Civil Service Commission, Radio Benue, industrial layout, BIPC quarters, Uniagric road, Katingu area north bank, Genabe, behind officon area, Uniagric study center, behind GTbank, Wadata old prison. Agboughul Wadata, and Demekpe area.

The SEMA boss promised that by the end of the governor’s assessment tour of some of the affected areas, areas designated as displaced persons camps would be announced.