The Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed that floods have submerged five communities in Ibaji Local Government Area as water levels in Rivers Niger and Benue continue to rise.
SEMA’s Executive Secretary, Mouktar Atima, disclosed this on wednesday in Lokoja, saying Ibaji Local Government Area in the state’s eastern senatorial district is completely under water. He listed the worst-hit communities as Ota, Ofogbo, Itima, and Owara.
Atima warned residents along the riverbanks to relocate immediately to safer grounds, noting that the next 72 hours will be critical.
“An emergency operations centre has been opened. Already, 258 communities in eight local government areas of the state have been marked as flood-prone, while 42 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been constructed to accommodate those displaced,” he said.
He explained that excessive water began pouring into Rivers Niger and Benue on Tuesday night from dams upstream, leading to the overflow now affecting the communities.
Speaking during an advocacy visit to the Ministry of Health, Atima stressed the vital role of the health sector in disaster response.
In his response, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adams Abdullazeez, assured that his ministry was fully prepared to mitigate health emergencies. He said fumigation of all 42 IDP camps had begun, while personnel and medical supplies were mobilised to halt disease outbreaks.
