As water levels in the Rivers Niger and Benue continue to rise, floods have flooded five communities in the Ibaji Local Government Area, according to the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
On Wednesday in Lokoja, SEMA’s Executive Secretary, Mouktar Atima, revealed that the Ibaji Local Government Area in the state’s eastern senatorial district is entirely submerged. He named Ota, Ofogbo, Itima, and Owara as the communities most affected.
Atima stated that the next 72 hours will be crucial and advised people living along the riverbanks to move right away to safer areas.
There is now an emergency operations center. 42 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have already been built to house the displaced, and 258 communities in eight local government areas of the state have already been designated as flood-prone, he said.
He clarified that on Tuesday night, dams upstream started to release too much water into the Rivers Niger and Benue, causing an overflow that is currently having an impact on the communities.
Atima emphasized the critical role that the health sector plays in disaster response while on an advocacy visit to the Ministry of Health.
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