Eight persons have been confirmed dead while over 800 farm lands were destroyed in a flood disaster that ravaged a plantain plantation in Enohia Itim, Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi State.
Chairman of Afikpo LGA, Timothy Nwachi who confirmed the incident, consoled the affected families and assured that the local government will do everything to prevent a reoccurrence.
Nwachi urged the people still residing in flood-prone areas to relocate to a safer ground,
“We are deeply sad over the unfortunate incident and we are using this medium to extend our condolences to the families that lost their loved ones.
“As government, we will support them and pledge to collaborate with relevant state and federal agencies to provide humanitarian assistance and timely relief to those affected,” he assured.
The Councilor representing Itim Ward in Afikpo Legislative Council, Francis Abani Okpani said the incident occurred on Friday, August 1, 2025.
He disclosed that out of the eight that died, three bodies have been recovered while five victims were still missing.
He further disclosed that children were part of those who died.
Okpani recalled that the Federal Ministry of Environment had predicted that Afikpo was one of the areas in Nigeria likely to experience flooding.
“I had earlier implored the people of Afikpo to incorporate climate change projections into flood-risk management plans,” Okpani said.
He also urged residents of the local government to ensure that they have effective drainage systems and keep their drains and waterways clear of debris to prevent blockages.
Ebonyi State Government has issued a warning to residents as massive flooding continues to destroy farmlands across several local government areas.
According to the 2025 seasonal climate prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NIMET), Ebonyi is listed as a high-risk flood zone.
That forecast is now playing out as heavy rains are flooding communities and submerging farmlands, especially in Izi, Abakaliki and Ikwo.l9cal government area.
Farmers are counting their losses. Large areas planted with rice, yam and cassava are now under water.
One of the residents whose farmlands was flooded in Abakaliki, capital of the state, Felix Ezeaka called on the government to step in quickly for relief and support.
“We are begging the state government to do something about it. If we plant rice, and the same thing, the flood will cover it. If we plant cassava, the flood will cover it. We don’t have anything to do about it”
The Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu, blamed the current situation in the capital city of Abakaliki partly on an incomplete drainage project by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project,( NEWMAP).
He said the halted project is worsening the impact of rainfall in the capital city.
“The second phase of the NEWMAP is called EIB NUMAP. So, we have designed the sites, because the issue is that the water that is supposed to discharge to the river flows back to the city because the river appears to be higher than the slope of the discharge of water that is collected in the city.
“So, we have designed the sites.
The state has also paid counterpart fund. Our government ror graciously approved the payment of the counterpart fund for the EIB NUMAP”, he said.
Chukwu said the government is now conducting public awareness campaigns and holding town hall meetings to guide residents on flood prevention steps.
According to him, people living in low-lying, flood-prone zones are being advised to relocate to safer locations as the rains continues.
