Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The overflowing Oguta Blue Lake has submerged Oguta, the country home of the late maverick politician Senator Arthur Nzeribe, and 14 other communities in Oguta Local Government Area, Imo State.
The incident occurred as a result of the recent heavy rains. The river bank overflowed, destroying farmlands as well as personal belongings worth millions of naira.
When The Nation visited the area yesterday, many buildings, including hotels, were submerged.
Many residents of Amaraocha in Oguta LGA fled their homes to seek refuge in safer places, while others were seen attempting to salvage what was left of their personal belongings.
Some of the fleeing residents told our correspondent that many of them were unable to save their property because the raging flood caught them off guard.
“My children and I were sleeping when suddenly all our mattresses were soaked by the flood,” said one of the victims, Eugene Nworlu.
“When I awoke, our beds and other properties were floating in water.”
He requested assistance from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the state government, and the federal government.
When contacted, Ifeanyi Nnaji, the Head of NEMA’s Imo/Abia Operations Office, said the agency had visited about 12 flood-affected communities.
He did, however, say that the agency had previously conducted community awareness campaigns about impending flooding caused by the lake’s sudden overflow.
“All of a sudden, the flood is on the ground.” I was there last Friday to assess the extent of the damage, and I advised the communities to leave the areas.
