Floods, windstorm leave trail of destruction in Ebonyi communities

Residents of Akpoha, Amasiri, Afikpo and parts of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State have appealed for urgent Government intervention after devastating floods and windstorms destroyed farmlands, shops and property worth millions of naira.

The disaster followed a prolonged downpour that lasted more than four hours on Saturday, causing rivers of water to overflow into farms along the Abakaliki–Afikpo Expressway and nearby communities. The accompanying windstorm ripped off roofs from commercial buildings and residential structures, exposing goods and valuables to the rain.

Many farmers, who had already planted crops for the season, said they were left heartbroken after returning to their farms to discover that their investments had been washed away.

Cletus Idam, a farmer, described the incident as one of the worst disasters to hit the area in recent years. He said the flood wiped out hectares of yams, cassava, maize, rice and melon farms, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of families who depend on agriculture.

According to him, continuous rainfall throughout the week had saturated the land before Saturday’s heavy storm triggered widespread flooding.

“Our farms are gone. Everything we planted has been destroyed. Most farmers borrowed money or invested their savings in this farming season. Now we are back to square one,” he said.

The disaster was not limited to farming communities. In Abakaliki, traders at Kpirikpiri Market and other business areas struggled to salvage their goods as strong winds tore through shops and commercial structures.

Chioma Ifeanyi, a trader, said several business owners suffered losses after rainwater soaked electronics, household items and other merchandise.

“The wind removed the roofs of some shops, and the rain entered freely. Many traders lost goods worth huge amounts of money,” she said.

Concerned residents said the recurring flooding in Afikpo, Amasiri and Akpoha has become a yearly challenge that continues to threaten food production and economic activities in the area.

Sunday Ewa, a farmer, in his submission urged the Ebonyi State Government to support affected farmers with improved seedlings, fertilisers, and other agricultural inputs to enable them recover from the setback.

He warned that the destruction of large portions of farmland could negatively affect food supply if urgent assistance is not provided.

Joseph Irem, community leader, said preliminary assessments indicated that the damage was extensive and could have serious implications for food security in the state.

He disclosed that community leaders would compile reports on the disaster and forward them to relevant authorities, including the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency.

“The scale of destruction is alarming. Many families have lost their means of livelihood. We are calling on government agencies to intervene quickly to prevent further hardship for the victims,” he said.

The latest incident has renewed calls for improved drainage infrastructure and sustainable flood-control measures in vulnerable communities across Ebonyi State, where residents say seasonal flooding continues to inflict heavy economic losses year after year.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date

Open In Whatsapp