Several areas of Makurdi, Benue State, have been flooded following a downpour that lasted more than nine hours on Monday.
The rain, which started around 3 am and continued until noon, affected several areas, including Gyado Villa, Wadata, Wurukum, Achussa, and parts of North Bank in Makurdi.
Our correspondent, who toured the town, reports that those living in riverine areas and refusing to relocate were the worst affected.
The state government had earlier issued warnings to residents in flood-prone areas, urging them to move to designated locations within the capital city.
When our correspondent visited some of the affected areas, residents were seen evacuating their submerged belongings.
A resident of Wadata, known simply as Tondo, said that he and his family woke up when the rain began and tried to salvage some of their personal belongings.
He said, “Ordinarily, we have been having sleepless nights because every time it rains, we don’t sleep. So, when the rain started around 3 am, we were already awake.
“We thought the rain wouldn’t last, but by 7 am, when it became clear that it wasn’t stopping, we started moving some things, such as documents and foodstuffs, outside.”
When asked why his family refused to relocate to the designated points nearby, Tondo said they believed they had escaped the worst of the flooding.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Mr James Iorpuu, said the agency was fully prepared to meet the needs of those affected by the flooding.
Iorpuu, speaking through the Information Officer, Terna Ager, said many residents living in flood-prone areas such as Gaadi and Wadata had already relocated to designated camps in Wadata and along Gboko Road.
He stated, “As I speak, the technical committee on rapid response to flooding, set up by Governor Alia, is currently at the Wadata and Gaadi camps, distributing food and non-food items to the affected victims.
“Those impacted by the recent flooding have been provided with mattresses and other food items.
“Today, many residents in the Wadata and Gboko Road areas of Makurdi were affected. Therefore, we are calling on all those living in and around flood-prone areas to immediately relocate to the camps to avoid further losses.
“As I said earlier, the technical team has gone out to assess the affected areas. However, it will be difficult to immediately determine the exact number of people affected by the rain, which has caused flooding in the state.”
