Residents of Umundino in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State are counting damages and loses from incidents of flooding in the area.
The residents, Mr Vincent Eluka, chief emenike Ugochukwu, and Mr. Ifeanyi Azubuike told our correspondent that in the past two weeks, flood has overwhelmed the area causing the collapse of soakaways and fences, while Chief Ezekiel Iwela said many boreholes have colapsed too urging government to come to their rescue.
They are calling for proper channeling of the flood to the Imo River through good drainage system.
They said, “My soakaway, my fence, everything has collapsed. So I am begging the Rivers State government to come and help us and do a drainage for us here.
If this thing continues like this I believe life will go. We call on the Rivers State government and the Oyigbo Local Government to help us.
Everywhere was flooded, even my church. Something like this can carry a child of 8years old.
The people that magef to build a house, their fences are falling. Like the soakaway will affect the water, drinking water.”
Similarly, the residents of Graceland community, Oyigbo, including the Chairman, Mr. Charles Emeka and Chief Abah Dura are afraid that the flooding in the area may trigger an epidemic due to the collapse of soakaways as they also lament how many residents have left the community including their families.
They continued, “A lot of people have packed out and now, this thing give some of these bad boys the opportunity to come and vandalize people’s property. We are calling upon the Rivers State government to come and rescue us.
We are begging government to come and put a drainage system to the main road that will lead this water to the Imo River.
Once drainage system is done, channel to a major road.
All we need now is governments intervention very fast because anything more than this, canoe will be taken. I feel very bad.
If this government wants to impress Oyigbo that gave them the bulk votes, they are supposed to ask us, “What do you want?” Our important thing is drainage system in this town.”
