‘We need food’ — Edo communities affected by flood beg government

Residents of Udaba in Etsako Central, Agenebode in Etsako East and Ifekhu in Esan South East Local Government Areas of Edo State ravaged by floods have called on federal, state and local governments to help them with foodstuffs as feeding has become their major problem.

The residents who spoke to newsmen in Benin City noted that the flood has destroyed their means of livelihood.

They also lamented that they have no place to set firewood for cooking except the few that have cooking gas.

The residents, including Ibrahim Aliu from Udaba and Abraham from Ifekhu communities, spoke to newsmen and alleged that they had been abandoned by the governments.

According to Ibrahim Aliu: “We are facing untold hardship as our means of livelihood have been destroyed and there is no place to set firewood for cooking.

“Only some residents who have cooking gas are cooking now, while others rely on them to cook their meals.

“My three hectares of cassava and yam farm are underwater and no one knows when the flood will recede. We are really suffering and we are yet to receive any relief materials from the state government.”

On his part, Abraham from Ifekhu lamented the hardship in the community.

“All our farms, produce and livestock have been swept away by the flood and we don’t have food to eat. The rice and pepper that we were to harvest have been submerged.

“The state government has abandoned us to our fate. The people are moving around in the community with canoes,” he stated.

He added that most of the residents who have gone to the camp are there without relief materials.

Also, the councillor representing Ward 10, Anegbete, in Etsako Central Local Government, Ojaide S. Ojaide, added that several communities have been submerged with no respite in sight.

“The whole community is under water and their means of livelihood have been destroyed by the flood,” he lamented.

He said the communities ravaged by floods need assistance not only from the governments but also from meaningful individuals.

The communities affected include Udaba, Ekperi, Osomhegbe, Ogoimeri, Iyowa, Ofuku, and Anegbete in Etsako Central; Agenebode in Etsako East; and Ifekhu, Ubiaja, and Ilushi, among others, in Esan South East Local Government Area.

The communities, situated along the bank of the River Niger, have been submerged due to the overflow of the river.