By Amos Igbebe
The overflowing River Niger occasioned by the opening of the Lagdo dam in Cameroon has sacked a traditional ruler in Ughelli South from his palace, while it claimed one life and still threatening others in Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
It was tale of woes Tuesday as the Delta Commissioner in charge of Bureau of Special Duties, Chika Ossai, accompanied by his Special Duties counterpart, Henry Sakpra, took members of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Red Cross, among others to Kwale, to set up camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The Commissioners were also at Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area, home of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) where the King of the community, HRM Mathew Egbi, has been sacked by the ravaging flood from his Palace.
At Kwale, the Commissioners were told that the flood has claimed the life of a lady at Okpai while other communities like Abala-Oshimili, Adiawai, Adiobika, and, Utchi have been submerged and the residents displaced.
It was reported that residents of the flooded communities have resolved not to leave their communities claiming that they were ill-treated at IDP camps during the 2012 flood.
Ossai said the river level was steadily rising as a result of the flood and that the camps were important to cater for those who have abandoned their homes while boats were on standby to attend to any emergency situation.
The Commissioner who decried the loss of life commiserated with the victims, disclosing that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa warned that those in flood prone areas should relocate to safe areas to avoid such a loss.
Chairman of Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Hon. Chris Osakwe, said it was an emergency situation assuring that everybody in the area has been sensitized while the council was partnering with other governmental agencies to bring succor to the victims of the flood.
At Otu-Jeremi, the dejected king thanked the state government for its prompt response to his distress call, stating that there was oil spillage while there was no water to drink.
“This your visit has given hope to the common man,” the. Okobaro said, noting that the drains were yet to be cleared.
The Commissioners also inspected the clearing of drains and the river which overflowed its bank at Otu-Jeremi.
