Natives and residents of Rumuewhara Community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have expressed dismay over the devastating effects of the incessant heavy rainfall in the state.
They are urging the state government to come to their aid by ensuring that the water is channeled properly into the drainage to avoid flood.
Some lamented that the rainfall has destroyed their property, explaining how they bail water out from their homes, shops after each downpour.
In an interview on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, a native of Rumuewhara, Mr. Samuel Ihunwo, explained that, “It is really terrible, very terrible, but what can we do? In fact, I should say that it’s part of us, we are used to it.
“I am an indigene. This is what we experience every year, this one is even smaller. Every year, I send my mother to my elder sister’s house because of this problem. My children, too, I just manage with my wife.
“It’s not safe at all, but will I abandon my house and run?
“For me ooo, the solution is to channel the water well, that’s all. The road is higher than all the compounds, houses and shops, the drainage too is too high, so, it takes time before water will find way out.
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“When it rains, water from the road will enter the gutters, but because our houses, compounds are very low, the water that falls in our compound will remain.
“When it fall like this, our bed will soak, house, water everywhere but we are begging government, they should help us.”
Also speaking, a shop owner in the affected area, Mrs. Chituru Amadi, said “na so we see am o. I no dey live here, na just my shop dey here.
“Water dey enter my shop, na bailer and bucket I dey use pack am commot, no be new thing. We no like am. Shop cheap small here na em make I dey manage.”
A mother of two, Mrs Imaobong Henry, also called for the government’s urgent intervention to salvage the situation, which she said has not been pleasant.
