“We need food” flood-affected Edo communities plead with the government

Flood-affected residents of Udaba in Etsako Central, Agenebode in Etsako East and Ifeh in South-East Local Government Areas of Edo State have appealed to the federal, state and local governments to help them with food items as nutrition has become their major concern .

Residents who spoke to journalists in Benin City noted that the flood had destroyed their livelihoods.

They also lamented that they had nowhere to put firewood for cooking, except for a few that had gas for cooking.

The residents, including Ibrahim Aliu from Udaba and Abraham from Ifeh, spoke to journalists and claimed they had been abandoned by the government.

According to Ibrahim Aliu: “We have faced untold hardships as our livelihoods have been destroyed and there is nowhere to store firewood for cooking.

“Now, only some residents who have gas cook, while others rely on it for cooking.

“My three hectares of cassava and yam farm are under water and no one knows when the flood will recede. We are really suffering and we are yet to receive any relief material from the state government.”

For his part, Abraham from Ifehu complained about the difficulties in the community.

“All our farms, produce and livestock were washed away by the flood and we have no food. The rice and peppers we were supposed to collect are submerged.

“The state authorities left us to our own devices. People move around the community in canoes,” he said.

He added that most of the residents who went to the camp are there without means of assistance.

Also, the councilor representing Ward 10, Anegbet, in Etsako Central Local Government, Ojaide S. Ojaide, added that several communities have sunk and no respite is in sight.

“The whole community is under water and their livelihoods have been destroyed by the flood,” he lamented.

He said that flood-affected communities need help not only from governments but also from meaningful individuals.

The affected communities include Udaba, Ekperi, Osomhegbe, Ogoimeri, Iowa, Ofuku and Anegbete in Etsako Central; Agenebode in the east of Etsako; and Ifekhu, Ubiaja and Ilushi among others in Esan South East Local Government Area.

Communities located along the banks of the Niger River were inundated by the overflowing river.