Over 5,000 people from the five major communities of Elele, Ekanyi, Obale and Affa in Analo ward of Ibaji local government area of Kogi State, victims of a devastating flood that submerged their homes between Friday and Sunday, are now seeking refuge in neighbouring Idah LGA of the state and Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State.
It was gathered that most residents of Ekanyi, Obale and Affa succeeded in crossing over to the Enugu boundary communities of Ogrugu, Ojjor and Iggah in Uzo-Uwani council Saturday and yesterday using wooden canoes through the Mabolo river also known as Ofu, leaving their property which had been completely submerged.
A source disclosed that the people of Elele, Odobo, Nwajala and Ejule whose communities were submerged early last week have all relocated to Idah town where they are now seeking refuge.
The source also disclosed that people from Odeke community in Ibaji council whose homes were also taken over by flood relocated to Iggah community in Enugu State between Saturday and yesterday.
It was learnt that many of the displaced people now reside in primary school buildings.
As at the time of filing this report, many Ekanyi and Affa natives were still arriving at Ogurugu that has become a major host to the refugees which included aged men, women and children.
Commenting on the sad development yesterday, the chairman of Ibaji LGA, Mr. Dave Ogwu, lamented that a greater part of the council had been deserted on account of the devastating flood, which had destroyed many houses, household property, farmlands and crops worth billions of naira in almost all the communities.
He urged relevant government relief agencies to come to the aid of the victims who are now refugees in neighbouring Enugu State, saying the call became necessary and urgent because the calamity had gone beyond the capacity of the council.
Ogwu said that Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, who had visited Idah town to assess the situation, had also scheduled to visit the refugees that crossed over to Enugu State on Tuesday with a view to seeking ways of coming to their aid.
Some leaders of Uzo-Uwani council led by the chairman, Mr. Cornel Onwubuyan who visited the border communities to assess the refugee situation yesterday, expressed concern over the large number of Ibaji people seeking refuge in their area.
The council chairman and a leader of Iggah community, Chief Maximus Ukwuta, who led the team that visited the area, urged the National Emergency Management Agency and other relief agencies in the country to quickly come to the aid of the refugees.
SOURCE: 1 October 2012.
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