A devastating flood has ravaged the Rumaholu-Nkpolu Pipeline Area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, displacing over 200 families and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The affected residents are now calling on the state government to intervene and address the root causes of the flooding.
The flooding has rendered many homes uninhabitable, forcing residents to flee and seek shelter elsewhere. Thomas, one of the affected residents, recounted the horror of finding snakes in every abandoned home.
“If you follow me now into each house that had been abandoned, you will find about six snakes,” Thomas said. “During the night, if you don’t have any torchlight especially while coming down from the staircase, you will see snakes. Sometimes, almost we step on the snakes, and that’s why most of us ran away.”
This is not the first time the community has experienced such severe flooding. Residents recall that the flooding began in 2017 after some individuals allegedly built properties on the waterways. Since then, the community has been plagued by annual floods, forcing residents to flee their homes for up to seven months.
A female resident, who wished to remain anonymous, blamed property owners who built houses on canals for exacerbating the flooding. She appealed to the state government to construct underground drainage systems to alleviate the issue.
“We are calling on the Rivers State Government to help build an underground drainage in this area. We use boats to paddle into our houses,” she said tearfully.
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The absence of residents has also led to an increase in looting and vandalism. The anonymous resident lamented that hoodlums had invaded her home, stealing valuable possessions.
“We left the house and locked the place. But before we came back, they looted everything from my house. We are just starting all over again.”
Kalu Chukwuma, Chairman of the Landlords Association at Rumaholu-Nkpolu, Pipeline Area, urged the state government to implement recommendations from the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning.
“Check for yourself, you can see many houses, even storey buildings affected. Though this area was well planned, unfortunately, nobody knew what happened. Maybe some areas have been blocked without us knowing because this was not happening until 2017.”
As the floodwaters continue to rise, residents are desperate for government intervention. Chukwuma appealed to the authorities to channel the water to the right canals and provide assistance to affected families.
“Let the government help us maybe to open up the place or channel the water to another area. The worst is that when the level of water is high, it starts coming from the ground with snakes. We have taken some people to hospitals especially our neighbours who don’t have anybody to help them.
The flooding has also raised concerns about the health and well-being of residents. With snakes and other reptiles invading homes, the risk of snake bites and other health hazards is high.
“We have taken some people to hospitals especially our neighbors who don’t have anybody to help them,” Chukwuma said.
The flooding has also had a significant economic impact on the community. Many businesses have been forced to close, leaving residents without income.
“We are just starting all over again,” the anonymous resident said.
The Rivers State Government has a responsibility to protect its citizens and provide essential infrastructure. The community is calling on the government to take immediate action to address the flooding.
