At least eight people were killed and over 800 farmlands destroyed after flooding ravaged Enohia Itim, a community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The incident occurred on 1 August, according to officials and residents.
The Chairperson of Afikpo Local Government Area, Timothy Nwachi, confirmed the tragedy to reporters in a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Sunday Nkama.
Mr Nwachi expressed condolences to the bereaved families and assured them that the council would take measures to prevent a recurrence. He also urged those still living in flood-prone areas to move to safer locations.
“We are deeply sad over the unfortunate incident, and we are using this medium to extend our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. As a 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 Councillor representing Itim Ward in the Afikpo Legislative Council, Francis Okpani, revealed that out of the eight fatalities, three bodies had been recovered, while five were still missing.
He added that three of the deceased were children and recalled that the Federal Ministry of Environment had earlier identified Afikpo as a high-risk flood area.
“I had earlier implored the people of Afikpo to incorporate climate change projections into flood-risk management plans,” he said.
Mr Okpani also advised residents to maintain effective drainage systems and ensure waterways remain free from debris to avoid blockages.
The Ebonyi State Government has warned that massive flooding continues to devastate farmlands across multiple local government areas.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has listed Ebonyi among high-risk flood zones in its 2025 seasonal climate prediction. Communities in Izi, Abakaliki, and Ikwo LGAs are among the worst affected.
Farmers lament losses
Farmers are reporting heavy losses as rice, yam, and cassava farms remain submerged.
Felix Ezeaka, a resident of Abakaliki whose farmland was destroyed, pleaded for urgent government intervention.
“We are begging the state government to do something about it. If we plant rice, 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,” he said.
Drainage project setback
Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu, partly blamed the worsening flooding in Abakaliki on an incomplete drainage project by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
He explained that the halted work has worsened waterlogging in the capital.
“The second phase of the NEWMAP is called EIB NEMAP. 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 the counterpart fund. Our government has graciously approved the payment of the counterpart fund for the EIB NEWMAP,” he said.
Mr Chukwu added that the state is conducting awareness campaigns and hosting town hall meetings to educate residents on flood prevention. He again urged those in low-lying, flood-prone zones to relocate as the rains persist.
