At least 22 families have been rendered homeless and property valued several millions of Naira have been destroyed by a devastating flood that occurred on Friday at Duruaku village, Okponaakuma community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.
Among those seriously hit by the disaster is a poor widow, with six little children, whose house was pulled down after the flood submerged it.
Also affected was an agro- allied industry, Turnky Sevirg, which was equally submerged, following the pulling down of its fences, just as its properties worth several millions of naira were destroyed.
Our Correspondent gathered that the heavy flood equally wrecked havoc at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, destroying appliances, as well as public utilities and farm crops.
The community, African Examiner gathered, had been under serious siege of flood for quite a long time, but the situation aggravated since the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha tore up roads without constructing them in the area.
The condition became more deplorable with the construction of sports stadium along Orlu/Owerri Expressway without flood or erosion control measures.
Meanwhile, the displaced victims, who are still trapped in the affected area, have appealed to the state government to come to their assistance.
Sharing her ugly experience with newsmen, amidst tears, the poor widow, Mrs. Nkechiyere Okorom, whose house was completely pulled down, said she and her children had been sleeping in people’s houses since the ugly incident occurred.
She added that what was more painful was that her house fell under the pressure of the flood water for the second time after the villagers had contributed blocks and cement to rebuild it.
Also narrating their odeal, manager of Turnky Sevirg Agro allied Mills Limited, Mr. James Ogo, stated that the flood invaded the company on two consecutive occasions and destroyed a lot of things in the process.
He disclosed that the magnitude of the damages had affected take-off of production in the company, appealing to the state government to come to their aid by controlling the flood to enable the company commence production.
In his reaction, traditional ruler of Okponakuma community, Eze Vincent Duru, lamented that the flood had caused him sleepless nights because “anytime it rains, my mind goes straight to the whole village of Duruaku and the industry.
“I remember the people who would be rushing out from their homes seeking refuge outside.
“As it keeps raining, more buildings are falling. As you try to rebuild, the flood comes with force and pull them down.
He said “Like that widow, when that house fell, the community contributed blocks to rebuild it but it had to fall a second time when the flood submerged the entire place. It’s really pathetic”.
The Monarch, regretted that despite all his cries in the media, no government official had come to the aid of his people, appealing to the Governor Okorocha led administration to save the people from the overwhelming problem.
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