Flood destroys 95 houses in Edo community

Residents of Umoghun-Nokhua community in the Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State have decried the devastation caused by a flood which destroyed 95 houses in the community and rendered several community members homeless.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the flood resulted from a heavy downpour on Monday, overpowering the drainage channels in the area.

Flood in Benin

The Chairman of Umoghun-Nokhua Community Development Association, Mr. Michael Eghaghe, who said no lives were lost, lamented that property worth millions of naira were lost to the flood. He pointed out that the drainage channels had no discharging point.

In a letter dated August 6, 2014, and addressed to the NDDC commissioner in Edo State, the association stated that the entire community, which was now counting their losses, would hold the Niger Delta Development Commission and the construction company handling a road in the area responsible for the plight of its people.

The association urged the NDCC and the construction firm to rebuild the damaged houses and rehabilitate the victims.

It also called on the state government to look into the plight of the residents and render assistance.

The letter read in part, “The community, therefore, holds the NDDC and the construction company, Askay Construction Company Limited, responsible for the damage and therefore calls on the company and the NDDC to come to the community to assess the damage and help to rebuild the houses and rehabilitate those rendered homeless.

“The issue of compensation should be taken seriously, while we call on all other authorities, such as the Orhionmwon LGC, EDSOGPADEC, the Edo State Government, National Emergency Management Agency and voluntary agencies to come to our aid.”

When our correspondent contacted the NDDC office in Benin, a source in the commission confirmedthat a letter had been received from the community and the commission had met with the youth of the community.

The source said a team of directors and deputy directors were on their way to the community at the time of filling in this report.

“We met with youths yesterday and told them that we were coming.

“This morning (Thursday), the Director, the Deputy Director in charge of community relations, the Assistant Director in charge of the project, have gone to assess the place.

“If you want any information on the matter, you have to see the State Director when he comes back,” the source said

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Flood destroys 95 houses in Edo community