Panic In Flood Prone Communities As Flood Arrives Okwuzi

There is serious anxiety in the flood prone communities of Rivers State, following a series of heavy rain in the week around the country and in most parts of the state, which is now pushing flood into Okwuzi Community in Orashi Kingdom (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area).
The federal government had on Monday, issued a flood alert announcing that there would be five days of heavy rains which is expected to result to serious flooding in 22 states of the country. Although, Rivers State was not specifically mentioned on the list of potential victim states which left some trace of hope in the people coupled with the fact that October was supposed to be the normal round-up period for the rainy season, there are strong indications that the coast is not yet clear for the communities.
The unwanted guest is already in Okwuzi Community and not ready to be taken unaware, community members are packing to ship out for safety but with serious lamentations. The farm lands are already flooded as well as some homes.
A female community leader who alerted National Point on this development, Mrs Peace Mgbenwa who is experienced in flood monitoring said farmers are hurriedly harvesting to avoid loss while a garri processing farm has already been submerged by water. She expressed worry that the people are about to experience anguish again.
Said she: “Our women used to suffer every year. Every year, they farm and flood will come and carry it. It has started again this year. They were all having the mind that it will not come as this is October, but to their surprise, it has come. You can see it coming again this year. This is a problem.
“They are now packing again. Look at their farm. The flood has carried it. See one of our sister’s factory where she used to produce garri, water has submerged it. The people are using keke (truck) to pack their load to go out of the water”.
The worried community people are praying that the developing flood will not be as heavy as that of 2022.
Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara had earlier set up a flood management committee headed by the deputy governor, Prof Ngozi Ordu who hails from the Orashi axis.