The homes of some residents of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, were Sunday morning ravaged by flood, which destroyed their property estimated at millions of naira. Mostly affected are houses located on Onwe Road.
The flood also submerged a garden spot (a recreational centre) located on same Onwe road which belonging to the former governor, Dr. Sam Egwu. Other property belonging to prominent stakeholders of the state were equally affected.
The flood also prevented worshippers whose church building was located inside the garden from accessing the facility.
Other property reportedly affected by the flood include a hotel owned by Senator Obinna Ogba who represents Ebonyi Central in the National Assembly.
Onwe Road is in the upscale neighbourhood where over 70 per cent of political office holders in the state reside.
The Bishop of Methodist Church, Dioceses of Abakaliki, Rt. Rev. Lawson Elom reacted thus: “It is so devastating. Since I came to Ebonyi State two years ago, I have been experiencing this, at least once or twice a year and it is not a funny thing.
“My request to the government is that they should intervene. The Federal government should as a matter of urgency help Ebonyi people. Flood is another devastating situation that does not spear anyone and so, there is a need for government to do something urgently about it, in order to serve live.
“Every year there must be flood and as such, people’s properties are destroyed, lives are equally destroyed, for example if people came out by 3:00am when this flood started, or that if this flood happened in the afternoon, it might have carried a very number of people including children.
“We experienced this flood very badly again this year at Onwe road. Some of us couldn’t have come to church because our houses was filled up with water. So, there is a need for the state/ federal government to intervene,” he stressed.