Exclusive: Casualties of 2012 flood in Delta resonates as state is listed among 2022 crisis-prone

Casualties of the devastating flood that rocked parts of Delta State in 2012 resonates as the National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency on Monday September 19, released data, after an emergency technical meeting on flood situation across the country, warning of impending flood in about 16 states in Nigeria, including Niger-Delta states such as Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross-River, Rivers and Bayelsa, as a result of the commencement of the release of excess water from the reservoir of Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon on September 13.

Fresh Angle International understands that over 100,000 Nigerians, have been displaced, at least 300 killed and more than 500,000 others affected in the past few months.

Niger Delta States, are set to suffer the flood crisis, due to the release of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and normal rains, coupled with the combined waters of rivers Niger and Benue, being emptied into the oil and gas-rich region.

The Director-General, NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, stated while speaking after the emergency technical meeting: “Based on our communication with NIHSA, the Lagdo Dam operators in the Republic of Cameroon, had commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir on September 13, 2022,”.

He added, “We are aware that the released water cascades down into Nigeria, through River Benue and its tributaries, thereby overwhelming communities that have already been impacted by heavy rainfall.

“The released water complicates the situation further downstream, as Nigeria’s inland reservoirs including Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro, are also expected to overflow between now and October ending.

“According to NIHSA, Kainji and Jebba dams have already started spilling exess water from their reservoirs. This will have serious consequences on frontline states and communities along the courses of rivers Niger and Benue.”

Recall that on Monday October 15, 2012, This Flag-ship Niger Delta Online Newspaper, reported how a 25-year-old father of 3 children, one Mr. Anthony Andiye, lost his 3-year-old daughter, Rachael to flood in Enebogbene Community, Warri South West local government area of Delta State.

Mr. Anthony Andiye, had explained that he and his wife, were inside their apartment thinking that their 3 children were inside when suddenly they realized that their only daughter, Rachael had been swept away by the ravaging flood.

In the same vein, we exclusively reported how the ravaging flood of 2012, hit Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, killing a- six-year-old boy and submerging over 9 communities.

The communities submerged by the flood in Bomadi Local Government Area in 2012, are; Bomadi, Esanma, Kalafiogbene, Elohim, Ogriagbene, Ogboin-Ama, Akugbene, Okoloba and Ekamtagbene.

Some communities in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas as well as others in Kwale, Aboh areas, were also devasted by the 2012, washing away farmlands.

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