Surging flood waters has wreaked havoc in some communities in Lokoja, the Kogi state
capital as houses were flooded and submerged by several hours of torrential rainfall on
Thursday. Several houses have been destroyed and many residents displaced.
The Kogi state government has asked residents affected by the flood to leave to safety
while those in other areas prone to tragedy should be evacuated. The commissioner for
environment and natural resources, Rosemary Oshikoya, explained that the government
has already set up camps in various parts of the town where affected people would be
catered for.
While speaking during assessment of the flooded communities, Oshikoya however
appealed to the federal government and other agencies to come to the aid of the state
and reduce the impact of flooding in the flood prone communities of the state. No
causality has been reported.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has warned of
imminent and more severe flood in areas like Sarkin Noma, Ganaja, Lokoja Local
Government Area and Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State. It advises
the communities living around the flood plains to immediately relocate to higher
grounds for safety to avoid the danger of the imminent flood.
This incident is happening days after flood destroyed properties and rendered about
one hundred and ten thousand people homeless in neighbouring Benue state.
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