……. Begin early harvest of crops
Lorine Emenike
Communities in Engenni Kingdom in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State are now living in fear following the recent rise in water level of Orashi River.
Sources informed TPCN reporter Lorine Emenike that the situation is forcing farmers to engage in premature harvest of their crops, while some have started moving out their properties from the area in anticipation of flooding.
A concerned indigene of Engenni, chief Silver Oku said that there is widespread panick in the communities over the possibility of flash flood.
Continuing, Chief Oku who is the principal of Joinkrama Boys secondary school and the Public Relation Officer of Isua Community of Joinkrama said most farmers in the area have started harvesting their crops, while some are relocating from the area.
“What is happening now is that there is panick in the communities, especially those by the shores of Orashi River and some people are engaged in premature harvesting of cassava and other crops.”
He said that the situation is not only in Engenni Kingdom but also in Ekpeye communities, on the shores of Orashi river, are also experiencing similar situation.
Oku said, though there are designated internally displaced persons(IDP) camps in the area, the number of persons that would be affected will be too much for the camp to contain.
He said the solutions to the problem lies in the government finding a lasting solution to the problem.
According to him, the solution to the problem lies in the constant dredging of the Orashi river which he said is now shallow to enable the free flow of water to the sea as well as other creeks adjoining the river.
Oku listed the adjoining creeks as Joinkrama creeks, Mbiama and Okarki creeks.
” The government should open up the creeks. The creek at Okarki, Joinkrama and Mbiama for water to flow into the sea. Government should also embark on the construction of embankment ”
“The Orashi river is becoming shallow, government should dredge it ”
The educationists who describe the 2018 flooding as very devastating, however expressed hope that the situation this year would be different.
Oku also said, the frequency of flooding in Engenni area has led credence to the climate change theory, adding that since 1969 when he experienced the first flooding in the area, the frequency is now a serious concern to the people.
“I believe that this is ultimate change because I witnessed the first flooding in 1969, after that, 1994 and that of 2018.
But I can tell you that the 2018 flooding was the most devastating one and now it is coming again this year”
Oku stressed the need for both government at all levels to deploy swamp buggies to dredge creeks in the area as is being done in Bayelsa presently.
It will be recalled that Ahoada west local government has designated some places as internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
The camps are located at the council secretariat, Akinima boys school Joinkrama and Model Secondary School Mbiama.
TPCN also learnt that nobody has started moving to the camp yet.
According to chief Oku, the camps do not only accommodate IDP’s from communities in Engenni but people from Biseni communities in Bayelsa State were also in the camp.
