Flooding in Makurdi Forces Thousands to Flee as Waters Rise

 

Over the weekend, several areas in Makurdi, Benue State, have been overwhelmed by rising floodwaters. Communities such as Agwan Jukun in Wurukum, Kilometer 3 near Judges Quarters, Wadata, Gyado Villa, and Agbouhoul are among the hardest hit. The flood has reached the perimeter fence of the Airforce Quarters at Wurukum Roundabout, and nearby mechanic workshops have been abandoned. Key locations like the Wurukum abattoir, plank market, and rice mill are also at risk as the water continues to advance.

As a result, thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes, while business owners have shut down operations and scrambled to save their goods. The rising water levels have created an urgent crisis for the people of Makurdi.

One affected resident, Mr. Sunny Ntenba, shared his ordeal. His home, located near Kyabis Hotel at Kilometer 3, Gboko Road, has been submerged. Fortunately, Mr. Ntenba was able to move his family and belongings to a temporary shelter provided by a friend. “The water level started rising days ago, and instead of receding, it kept increasing. Some of us left early, remembering past floods caused by the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon,” he said.

Though he managed to relocate in time, Mr. Ntenba’s house remains partially submerged, and he doesn’t expect to return home until next month. He also appealed to the federal government to dredge the River Benue to help prevent these recurring floods that have plagued the region.

In response to the disaster, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has urged residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate immediately to safer locations and designated camps. The Executive Secretary of SEMA, James Iorpuu, emphasized the severity of the situation, citing the dangerously high water levels as a key reason for the evacuation order.

As floodwaters continue to rise, the affected communities are left to wait for relief and hope for long-term solutions to a crisis that seems to strike year after year.