Floods Submerge 20 Houses, Render 1,000 Homeless In Akwa Ibom

No fewer than 20 residential houses have been submerged and over 1,000 people rendered homeless following a three-day downpour in Afaha Ikot-Eyo Edo in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.


Village head of Afaha Ikot Eyo Edo, Chief Samuel Ikene, who gave the account of the damage resulting from the downpour during a chat with journalists in Esit Eket on Tuesday said “since the rains started on Sunday, floods ravaged the community and rendered people homeless.”


“Some people have parked their property to the neighbouring village for shelter. We don’t have a place to sleep and even clothes to wear,’’ the village head lamented.


The monarch lamented that the floods also destroyed property and farmlands worth millions of Naira in the area.


The community, he said, has generally suffered considerable losses from the effect of flooding which he blamed on lack of good drainage system in the area.


He therefore called on the state government and other relevant stakeholders to come to the aid of the people and the community.


A resident of the community, Mr. Bassey Ussoh reported to Daily Independent that the houses were submerged because the flood went beyond window and penetrated the houses before overcoming them.


He lamented that the flood also destroyed his valuables and pleaded with the state government and public spirited individuals and organisations to come to their assistance with relief materials to cushion the effect of the damage.


Another victim, Madam Lovina Etim, complained that the ravaging floods had compounded the sufferings of the people.
She appealed to the government to intervene both with relief materials and good drainage systems.


“As I was in the house, the flood just covered the house and destroyed my property and my personal effects. We shouted and some people came to rescue us from the flood. Now my children and I are taking refuge in the neighbouring village,’’ she lamented.