Ogheneruona Tejiri, Warri
Over five riverine communities have been overran by water in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta.
Mr Kenren Pere, Councillor representing Ogbinbiri Ward 18 in Asigborodo Community disclosed this to Daily Independent on Monday in Warri.
Mr. Pere said that the affected communities included: Torukubuagbene; Awanba;
Koropigbene; Itagbene and Asigborodo and adjourning communities.
According to the serving councillor, the incident began over a week ago adding that the situation became worse last Friday, September 22, 2023.
While appealing for urgent intervention by the Delta State Government, the councillor said that the life of his people were at stake.
According to Mr. Pere, “I can not attribute the course to flooding or the heavy torrential downpour that has been happening in recent time.
“Though, rain has been falling before, but we have not had it so bad like this.
“Many valuables including: local boats, clothes, food items and other means of livelihood have been destroyed by the unfortunate occurrence.
“Life is a stake, people can no longer go about their normal daily activities to feed, so there is hunger in the affected communities.
“The overflow started more than a week now but the situation became worse three days ago, living my people in fear,” he said.
Mr. Pere appealed to the state government to send relief materials including food items to the people to alleviate their suffering.
When contacted, Mr Smart Asekutu, Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area did not pick the several calls put across nor responded to the WhatsApp messages sent to his cell phone.
Contacted, Mr Daniel Okpor, Director, Administration and Finance, Delta Emergency Management Agency said that the agency was not aware of the development.
Mr. Okpor, however, requested for video clips of the incident to aid their findings and response, adding, “was the incident as a result of flood or rainfall? We believe more on video than photographs. In the absent of video, you can send me photographs.”
