Disaster hit Makurdi, Benue State capital and several communities in the state, yesterday, as an unprecedented surge of River Benue swept away several houses, leaving thousands of people homeless with property worth billions of naira washed away. The surge which started building up Sunday night had at the last count, submerged close to 10,000 residential houses, business places, huts and farmlands. Worst hit by the devastation were houses within the bank of the river and most structures within five kilometres radius of the river. Some of the affected communities included: Kucha Otebe, Gyado Villa, brick factories in Wadata and New Garage, the abattoir along the new Makurdi Bridge, North Bank and the highbrow Judges quarters area of the town where Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume and Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom have their residential houses. Also threatened by the steady rise in water levels is the main campus of the Benue State University and the newly constructed Benue University Teaching Hospital; the Regional Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, all in Makurdi. The flood also sacked most of the students of the state owned Benue State University who were moving out in droves after losing most of their books and house hold items to the flood. Meanwhile the state Director of Environment at the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Daniel Iorshahea, has warned residents living within the banks of River Benue and other adjoining communities to immediately vacate their abode to avoid being swept away by the fast increasing water levels of the river.
- RSOE EDIS
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