Schools and markets have been shutdown as flood continues to threaten
indigenes of Ogbaru community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra
state.
There has been rising tension and apprehension among residents as many
families have been sacked from their homes.
The situation has been attributed to constant rainfall in the area,
which has sacked students and traders from schools and markets
respectively.
Academic activities have consequently been put on hold to avert
endangering the lives of teachers and pupils, just as economic
activities have remained on hold as markets have remained closed.
A leader in the area, who identified himself as the Iyasele of Atani,
Chief Augustine Uyanne, attributed the flood menace to the overflow of
the river banks and poor drainage system in the area.
Uyanne lamented that his house was also affected, forcing him to
relocate, while calling for urgent intervention by relevant agencies,
insisting that the people of the area were in grave danger.
“We no longer sleep in our houses, even when we do, we cannot sleep with
our two eyes closed, lest we be swept into the river by flood.
“More than three persons have already lost their lives within a space of
two weeks as a result of this flood. We are devastated, and we are
calling on government to come to our aid.”
The state government had earlier called on people living in riverine
areas of the state to be at alert and be ready to relocate to internally
displaced peoples camps, which it insisted had been fully equipped to
house displaced people.
Some of the displaced persons were seen taking refuge at Ogbaru council
Secretariat.