FLOOD OVERRUNS IGBODO COMMUNITY, MANY RESIDENTS RENDERED HOMELESS

The agrarian Igbodo community, in Ika north east local government area of Delta state has been hit by flood, leaving hundreds of people homeless.

Residents of the affected area were seen scampering to safety, even as they made efforts to salvage their belongings from the rampaging flood which increased over the weekend with the heavy rains.

The Director, Media and Publicity, Igbodo Development Union, IDU Worldwide, Comrade Nkem Nwaeke, said the country home of the Iyase of the kingdom, Dr Ifeanyi Unomah, was among the  buildings mostly affected.

Comrade Nwaeke revealed that the Iyase, a retired University Don, was devastated as he watched the fence of his premises go down. 

He immediately relocated to a safe place, abandoning his house and property to fate.

There were conflicting accounts of what must have caused the flooding as some persons claimed that it was from the ground, as history had it that there was a small river called ‘Omelebele” in that particular area of the community.

The President General, Igbodo Development Union, IDU Worldwide, Deacon Matthew Okwaje, who was one of the first callers to the affected area to ascertain the extent of damage and  the effect on the people, said it was mostly caused by overflow of water as a result of the heavy rains.

While expressing shock and sadness over the development, Deacon Okwaje stated that roads and drains recently constructed in some neighboring communities, including Umunede, Akumazi and Ekwuoma must have added to the heavy flooding as rain water from those areas had found its way to Igbodo which is in a valley.

The President General, who said this was the first time flood was taking over a part of the community, pointed out that prior to the construction of the roads, Igbodo had never experienced such a heavy flooding.

He disclosed that he was already making efforts to reach the relevant authorities with a view to finding solution to the problem before the entire community is submerged by the flood.