Flood renders over 300 residents homeless in Abia

Akoo River in Nkalunta Ibere village, Otu Uzo-Ibere, in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State has overflowed its banks and flooded homes and farms in the community, destroying houses, livestock, poultry and churches.

The incident, which occurred after a week-long heavy rainfall, rendered more than 300 people homeless.

According to members of the community, Akoo River rose above its normal water level following persistent rainfall that pounded the community for one week.

The impact of the overflowing river, according to residents of Nkalunta Ibere village, also swept reptiles, fish and other aquatic animals from the river onto the surrounding land.

Narrating the travails of the community to journalists, the President-General of Ibere Clan Development Union Federated, Maxwell Otuonye, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, House of Assembly candidate for Ikwuano LGA, Kalu Chukwuemeka Israel, called for immediate assistance from the Abia Government and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

They noted that the villagers had been exposed to hunger and possible disease outbreaks, as many of them were currently sleeping in the cold following the destruction of their homes.

Also speaking to journalists after visiting the affected homes and farms, the Chairman of Ikwuano LGA, Anthony Nwaubani, described the Nkalunta flooding as a major disaster that required immediate action from NEMA and other relevant government agencies.

He lamented that the scale of the destruction was too extensive for his office to handle.

Meanwhile, the immediate past Minister of State for Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh, who is from Ikwuano, has appealed to the Federal Government and the Abia Government to immediately provide assistance to his devastated kinsmen.

DAILY POST had on Thursday reported a similar flooding incident in Ugwueke community, Bende LGA of Abia, where a 37-year-old trader, Mr Ejiuwa, drowned in a flooding incident while returning from the market.

Flood renders over 300 residents homeless in Abia