Flood: 12 Cross River communities submerged, 3,000 farmlands destroyed

-Flood ravaged 12 communities in Cross River, destroying farmlands and rendering many homeless.

The menace of flood ravaging some states in Nigeria has also wrecked havoc in twelve communities in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State and 3,000 farmlands after heavy downpour which lasted for two days.

Naija News gathered that the heavy rain which started on September 18 and stopped on September 19 destroyed property worth millions, also leaving several residents homeless and displaced.

The Director General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), John Inaku, told NAN on Sunday, during an inspection of the submerged areas that the economic survival of residents of the flooded communities had been jeopardized, adding that more than 1,000 people have been displaced and are taking refuge in nearby communities.

Some of the communities affected are Bago, Unu, Bagabo, Bakie, Bufua, and Kakwe-Beebo.

He therefore, said the state government has promised to take over the situation and aid the victims.

He said: “The deluge of Sept. 18 and 19 has caused massive flooding in 12 communities in Cross River. Properties worth millions of naira were equally destroyed in the process. The flood also destroyed farmlands; crops such as banana, cassava, plantain, yam, cocoa and others were also affected while some bridges were washed away.

“The worst aspect of the flood is that it also destroyed streams which served as the only source of drinking water for the people, while the main access road was washed away as a result of landslide,’’ he said.

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One of the victims, Bette Obi, Chairman of Cross River Forestry Commission, said that the flood caused severe damage on the residents of the affected area. He said his cocoa and plantain farms were destroyed by the flood and begged the state and federal government to come to their aid.

“As we speak, our farmlands have been washed away by flood. The streams where we fetch water for drinking has been polluted. We urgently need government’s assistance in our communities to ameliorate our plights,’’ Obi said.

Another victim, Gabriel Ofre, traditional ruler of Bago community, said that the flood had displaced his entire household, and that his property had been destroyed.

He said residents of the area were peasant farmers, who lived on the meagre earnings from their farm produce.

Mr. Ofre therefore, appealed to SEMA and NEMA to come to their rescue.