Two persons have been killed in the flood which occurred along Eketai River in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The flood was said to have overflowed the bank of Eketai River as it submerged drainage systems, houses, and other structures.

The Village Head of Ekpene Afaha Eket, Chief Enim Ekanem, told our correspondent in Eket on Friday that the community had recorded two deaths from the same flood in the previous year and another two this year.

“It is sad that we have lost two persons again this year from the flood along Eketai River, which often overflows its bank when it rains.

“The effect is that the water usually covers farmland, drainage system, and houses. And when this happens, people don’t know when they walk into the river and get drowned. We lost two persons last year from the same incident,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT

The chief lamented that Afaha Eket people were the worst hit during the rainy season in Eket LGA. He stated that Afaha Eket is the area where the entire flood in Eket is channeled through, adding that this makes the community more prone to flood disaster.

He stated that besides the development, Afaha Eket has been neglected by governments at all levels during rainy season.

“Our suffering is exacerbated as the entire flood from Eket Urban is channeled through Afaha Eket and its environs. And when rain starts, we receive in full the hazardous effects of rain water, which sometimes covers whole residents and killing some occupants,” he said.

“We appeal to Akwa Ibom State government to relocate our community; frequent flooding of the areas over the years has caused us harm and hardship,” he added.

Ekanem called on National Environmental Management Agency and other relevant stakeholders to donate relief materials to the affected victims.

He asked the state government to take an urgent step to control flooding in the area with a view to preventing future occurrence.

He lamented that residents of Afaha Eket had been displaced due to flooding, saying that they had lost property worth millions of naira to the flood.

Ekanem stated that most of the flood problems that occur in the area are man-made, adding that many residents block sewage system by discharging refuse into the systems.

He advised the Town Planning Ministry to channel most of the flood water away from residential areas.

He urged the Federal Government to dredge Eketai River in order to carry volume of water away from the area.

http://www.punchng.com/city-news-feature/flood-two-persons-drown-in-aibom/

Nawa o....