At least 25 communities in Edo State, located along the banks of the River Niger, have been submerged by floodwaters following the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. Ojimah Christopher, the Desk Officer for Relief Materials and Distribution in Esan South East, confirmed the development on Monday.
Christopher said the affected areas include Etsako East, Etsako Central, and Esan South East Local Government Areas. While lamenting that Internally Displaced Persons camps are already filled to capacity, he confirmed that “Twenty-five communities have been submerged.”
Christopher, who also serves as the Secretary of the Emergency Committee for the local government, described the situation as dire. He added that communities like Ifeku were completely submerged, with properties and livestock swept away by the rising waters.
He said residents could not take their belongings due to the rising level of the flood which, according to him, may surpass that of previous years.
