No fewer than 20 houses in Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, and several other homes in surrounding communities have been destroyed following a heavy downpour that triggered devastating flooding in the area.
The flood also claimed the life of a motorcyclist identified simply as Uche, who was swept away by raging floodwaters while travelling from Somorika to Igarra. His body was recovered two days after the incident.
Several graves located within residential compounds, including one along Okpe Road near the Igarra Police Station, were washed away by the flood, while some houses were completely submerged for several days before the water receded.
Residential, commercial and religious buildings were affected by the disaster. The flood also damaged the fence of the private residence of former Chief of Staff to a former Edo State Governor, Taiwo Akerele, among other properties.
The latest flooding comes exactly 10 years after a similar disaster in Igarra that resulted in the death of a resident and widespread destruction of homes and property.
The worst-hit areas include Iretutu axis, Pope Francis Road, Okpe Road, Market Road and Rest House Road, all within Igarra.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the Councillor representing Ward 1 in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Asebe Rabi, described the flooding as devastating, saying many residents had lost their homes, property and means of livelihood. He appealed to the relevant authorities to provide urgent assistance to the victims.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Alabi Oshionogue, said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had been notified of the disaster.
According to him, “We have taken records and communicated SEMA and also doing a follow up on it. We sympathises with the affected families while making plans to ameliorate situation before us as a govt.
“We are working in collaboration with the SEMA to ensure those affected by the flood are reached in this trying period.
“I have directed the HOLGA, the HOD environment/works to carry out immediate assistance in clearing the drainages by removing the refuse and wastes the flood has deposited across areas affected.” He said.