Benue residents flee as overflowing river floods homes

Many residents of the flooded areas in Benue State have fled their homes, taking refuge in the nearby communities.

Commissioner of Water Resources and Environment, Dr Godwin Oyiwona, said on Friday that the flood had risen to a level of 11.1m on the seasonal flood guage on River Benue.

The commissioner also expressed worry that some residents were refusing to leave their homes on account that they were fishermen and the flood provided them better opportunity.

Oyiwona said, “Water level is increasing because of the increase in water level from the dam in Cameroon. We are encouraging people to leave the coastal areas to other safer areas.

“We are handling the area of rise in water level which is 11.1 metre as at Thursday evening and the water is still coming. In 2012 when there was massive flooding in Benue State, it was 12 metres. So, it is about .9m to get to that and we are warning people to move away from the coastal line to higher grounds.

“As at today, we are working to distill drainages in town as part of measures to contain the water. We are going through the city and telling people to move. Some are moving, others are not moving. We are going round to people to come that we have place where they will be camped.”