Flood alert: Benue Govt mobilises traditional rulers, others

Benue State Government says it has mobilised traditional rulers, religious leaders, media and other critical stakeholders to ensure an effective emergency response to mitigate the effects of the impending flood disaster in the state.

The collaborative efforts among stakeholders is geared towards protecting lives and property by downscaling early warning and mitigation messages to the grassroots ahead of the flooding.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Acting Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Sir. James Iorpuu when he led members of the technical committee on the 2024 flood sensitisation visit to Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, the Och’ Idoma palace and Joy FM Otukpo, Benue State.

He said there was the need for SEMA and the diocese to engage in deeper collaboration, particularly in the areas of humanitarian response and disaster preparedness.

“The essence of our visit was to enable us to assess the conditions of designated camps, including the one at the St. Francis School Otukpo, which will serve as a temporary shelter for those that will be displaced by the impending floods,” he stated.

In his remark, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Apochi thanked the team for the visit and reaffirmed the church’s commitment to working closely with the government to provide necessary support to flood victims.

He acknowledged the role of the church in nation building and as a pillar in the community, capable of offering not only material aid but also spiritual and psychological support to people affected by disasters.

Iorpuu told the Och’ Idoma, HRM Chief John Obagaji Odogbo that the committee was in the palace to seek royal blessings and continued support from the traditional council in the fight against the impacts of flooding on the Idoma people.

He thanked the Och’Idoma for his consistent partnership, stressing that traditional rulers must raise awareness about disaster preparedness and foster peace between affected populations and host communities.

The Och’Idoma, Agabaidu Elaigwu Odogbo John acknowledged the cultural sensitivity around living in camps but reassured the SEMA delegation that the kingdom was open to working with the government.

“It is indeed a cultural taboo for members of the Idoma community to live in camps and be fed as though they were beggars, regardless of how well the camps are organized,” he said.

The SEMA team also made a stop at Joy FM Otukpo, where they engaged the general public in an awareness campaign about the impending flood.

The delegation was received by the General Manager of Joy FM, Mrs. Ogli Christabel Ebugo, who expressed her appreciation for the agency’s efforts to keep the public informed.