Heavy Rainfall and Windstorm Devastate Ebonyi Communities
Torrential rainfall accompanied by a windstorm wreaked havoc on farmlands and shops in Abakaliki and Akpoha communities within Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Saturday night. The downpour, which lasted over four hours, triggered severe flooding along the Abakaliki–Afikpo Expressway, submerging vast agricultural lands and destroying crops valued at millions of naira.
Affected farmers reported to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Sunday that the floodwaters washed away yams, cassava, maize, rice, melons, and other crops. Cletus Idam, a farmer, lamented that the disaster wiped out all his investment for the planting season. “We invested huge sums of money in our farms, but everything has been washed away. We may have to replant if the flood recedes,” Idam said.
Farmers Appeal for Government Intervention
Idam appealed to the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assess the damage and provide support to the affected communities. He noted that Afikpo, Amasiri, Akpoha, and neighboring areas experienced extensive destruction of farmlands due to the recent heavy rainfall.
Another farmer, Sunday Ewa, urged the Ebonyi State Government to deliver relief materials and agricultural inputs, including improved seedlings, chemicals, and other farm supplies, to enable farmers to resume cultivation. Ewa highlighted that Afikpo, Amasiri, and Akpoha remain particularly vulnerable to flooding because of their terrain.
Community Leaders Warn of Food Security Threat
Joseph Irem, a community leader in Afikpo, described the destruction as a serious threat to agricultural production and food security. He stated that community leaders would formally report the incident to relevant authorities and seek intervention on behalf of the affected natives. Irem expressed optimism that both the Ebonyi State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would provide relief assistance to the victims.
Windstorm Damages Commercial Buildings in Abakaliki
In parts of Abakaliki, a strong windstorm damaged commercial buildings, blowing off the roofs of several shops and allowing rainwater to destroy goods. Chioma Ifeanyi, a trader at Kpiri-Kpiri Market, reported that many traders suffered heavy losses, particularly dealers in electrical appliances. “The rainstorm caused extensive damage, and many shop owners had their goods damaged by rainwater,” she said.
Petty traders at the popular Ebebe Junction Evening Market in Amike-Aba Community, Abakaliki, also recounted their losses. Patricia Onwe, Iruka Ede, and Pauline Iteshi said the windstorm blew off the roofs of their makeshift sheds, destroying their goods. “We lost several goods, mostly grains, amounting to hundreds of thousands of naira. We are calling on the government to come to our aid. We depend on what we make from our petty trading in this market to fend for our families and pay our children’s school fees,” they stated.
