Flood: Benue Communities Submerged
From Msughshima Andrew, Makurdi
The State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) in Benue has disclosed that five communities in Agatu and others places in Makurdi have been submerged in the flood.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mr Emmanuel Shior who stated this while speaking to newsmen in Makurdi, said Rice Mill and other settlements along the banks of River Benue have also been submerged.
He called on Benue people living along the river banks to move out immediately to avoid been totally submerged by the flood.
Shior however said state government has taken proactive measures and has set up a committee made up of SEMA, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Information and other stakeholders to sensitive the Benue populace on the impending flood.
He said SEMA in conjunction with NEMA and other stakeholders are carrying out awareness using TV, Radio, Churches, Mosques other media to urged people to move from the flood areas to safety.
The Executive Secretary pronounced a red alert on River Benue saying the water level has reached 11 metres out of 12 through a gauge placed inside the river.
Mr Shior who said this is almost on the level that caused flooding in 2012 which led to most parts of the state to be submerged.
He advised residents not to carryout activities nor come in direct contact with the water because of the rising level as 12 metres is the last level that can cause disaster in any state.
He said International Market, used last year, has already been opened to house those moving from the flood prone areas in Makurdi while centres have also been prepared across the state to house those who will be displaced in other local government areas.
The Zonal Coordinator, North Central, for NEMA, Mr Slaku Lugard noted that the federal government had listed 12 states including Benue as states that would be likely affected by flooded.
“So we have come with a team trained by NEMA to collaborate with SEMA to assess the situation, check out the available facilities and gaps and report back to the head office for additional resources where needed.”
Slaku said while NEMA, SEMA and other stakeholders are working to ensure prompt actions are taken immediately they receive a distress call from any part of the state where people may be trapped, the people must also cooperate with government to control possible flooding.
