A severe flood has struck Ebonyi State, Nigeria, leaving 134 families without homes and causing significant damage to properties and farmlands. The flood, which occurred on Wednesday, was triggered by heavy rainfall that began on Tuesday. Residents of Akaeze and neighbouring communities in Ivo Local Government Area woke up to find their homes submerged in water, with many struggling to salvage their belongings. The flood has also affected farmlands, destroying crops such as rice, yam, and potato.
The flood has had a devastating impact on the affected communities, with many residents left without habitable homes. Chinyere Irem, a farmer from Amaegbu Umobo, Akaeze, estimated his losses at between N8 million and N20 million, with his rice, potato, and other crops destroyed. Ochude Chukwu, whose residence was pulled down by the flood, has been forced to relocate with his wife and three children. The flood has also paralysed vehicular and human movement around Ivo Agbaleka and adjoining communities, while the Ivo Market was also inundated.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has assessed the situation, documenting 134 affected families in Akaeze, with the figure expected to increase as assessments continue in other locations. The party's state chairman, Chukwuma Igwe, led a delegation to the affected communities, announcing that the party's 2027 governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, had released N5 million for immediate assistance to victims. The PDP has also promised to draw the attention of the Federal Government and relevant agencies to the plight of the affected residents.
The PDP's intervention is seen as a temporary relief, with the party stressing that the major responsibility for disaster response rests with the government. Igwe said the party's role was to condole with the victims and sympathise with them, while the government is expected to provide major intervention. The party's spokesman, Darlington Onwe, described the incident as a major humanitarian disaster, saying the scale of the destruction required more than immediate relief.
The affected communities include Amaegbu Umobo, Umuewodo Ndiachi Umuobo Akaeze, and Umuezaka Ezeukwu Akaeze, among others. Okpe Favour Chidinma said more than 20 houses were affected in her community, forcing some displaced families to seek alternative accommodation. Okechukwu Uwaezioke said the flood had paralysed movement in the area, while the market was also affected.
The flood has brought substantial economic losses to the affected communities, with many residents calling on the government to provide relief materials and emergency assistance. Felix Ogbonna Igboke, the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ohanivo Federal Constituency, was part of the delegation that assessed the extent of the damage and provided immediate assistance. The residents are also appealing for a technical assessment of the affected communities to determine what is driving the flooding.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Ebonyi and Federal governments are being called upon to provide support to the affected families. With farms destroyed and homes rendered uninhabitable, many fear that the consequences of the flood will extend beyond the initial disaster. The residents are seeking help to survive the immediate crisis and measures that will prevent them from facing the same disaster again.
Key points
- The flood has displaced 134 families and caused widespread destruction in Akaeze and neighbouring communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
- The Peoples Democratic Party has released N5 million for immediate assistance to victims, with the party's 2027 governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, leading the intervention.
- The affected communities are calling on the Ebonyi and Federal governments to provide relief materials, emergency assistance, and a technical assessment to determine the cause of the flooding.
