The surging River Benue in Makurdi, the Benue State has displaced hundreds of families and submerged numerous houses and farmlands.
The rapidly rising water level has affected residents living within a 1-2 kilometer radius of the riverbank, forcing them to flee their homes.
Several areas, including Agwan Jukun community in Wurukum, Kilometre 3 near the Judges Quarters, Wadata, Gyado Villa, and Agbouhoul, have been severely flooded.
The perimeter fence of the Airforce Quarters at Wurukum Roundabout has been reached, and nearby mechanic workshops have been abandoned.
Mr. Sunny Ntenba, a resident whose house near Kyabis Hotel, Kilometre 3, Gboko Road, has been partially submerged, shared his experience.
“The water level started rising days ago, and instead of receding, it kept increasing. Some of us left early, remembering past flooding incidents caused by the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon,” he recounted.
Ntenba expressed gratitude for being able to relocate his family and belongings to a temporary shelter provided by a friend but lamented that his house remains partially underwater. He does not expect to return home until next month. Urging the federal government to take action, Ntenba appealed, “The government should dredge the River Benue to prevent these recurring floods that torment Makurdi residents.”
In response to the crisis, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has issued a dire warning, urging residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate immediately to safer locations and designated camps. SEMA’s Executive Secretary, James Iorpuu, emphasized the urgency of the situation, citing the dangerously high water levels as the reason for the directive.
