Flood Ravages Enugu Communities, Houses Collapse, Crops Worth Millions Destroyed
No fewer than four communities in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State — Mpu, Okpanku, Ndiabor and Oduma — have been ravaged by a devastating flood, leaving residents displaced and destroying houses, shops, rice mills, farmlands and other property worth millions of naira.
The flood, which reportedly began on September 20, intensified on Tuesday and Wednesday, submerging parts of Afor Okpanku, Ivo Bridge and adjoining roads.
More than 10 houses reportedly collapsed yesterday, while rice, yam and cassava farms were washed away by the surging floodwaters.
As of press time, residents were evacuating their families and belongings to safer locations as heavy rainfall continued across the affected communities.
The Councillor representing Mpu Ward, Hon. Edwin Ogbuka, described the situation as life-threatening, saying several houses and farmlands had been severely affected.
Ogbuka, who called for urgent government intervention, attributed the flooding to the overflow of water from the abandoned Ivo Dam project.
Also speaking, a community leader in Mpu, Mr Chukwu Magnus Dele, said six villages in the community had been affected, forcing displaced residents to seek refuge at Amachalla Town School.
He appealed to the government and relevant emergency management agencies to urgently provide relief materials and other assistance to the victims.
Similarly, the Youth Leader of Okpanku, Mr George Ahaefuna, described the disaster as unprecedented.
He said: “Since I was born, I have never seen this kind of flood in my life. The flood has destroyed all we have laboured for this year.
“It has destroyed our crops, rice and yam farms worth millions of naira. I am appealing to the Federal Government, Enugu State Government, Aninri Local Government, NEMA and SEMA to come to our aid.”
A shop owner at Afor Okpanku Market, Mrs Patricia Chukwu, said goods worth millions of naira had remained submerged for two days.
“This development is devastating. This is the worst flood that has affected Okpanku in my generation.
“If you go inside the villages, you will see houses destroyed by the flood. I urge the government, spirited individuals, the Senator representing Enugu West, the House of Representatives member, the local government chairman and the House of Assembly member to assist those whose houses were destroyed to rebuild them so they can return home,” she said.
The flood situation was still deteriorating as of press time, with continued rainfall sending more buildings and farmlands under water.
Residents also recalled that Okpanku had experienced major flooding on previous occasions, citing 1939, 1965 and 2026 as significant flood years.
Aninri council boss speaks
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, expressed concern over the disaster, noting that some parts of the council area experience flooding twice yearly, which he linked to the uncompleted Ivo Dam project.
Nwanjoku said stakeholders were planning a joint visit to the Ivo Dam to assess the reservoir and explore possible repairs aimed at preventing further flooding.
“I felt sad the moment I heard about the incident. Most communities in Aninri have been submerged by flooding, such as Okpanku, Mpu, Uhuezeoke in Ndiabor and parts of Ezineshi in Oduma.
“Crops, houses and businesses were destroyed. We are assessing the situation to know the level of damage this has caused,” he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain reactions from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, were unsuccessful as of press time.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
