Crimes

3 dead, residents displaced as flood submerges Bayelsa community

The Ayakoro settlement in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa has been submerged by flood, leaving no fewer than three people dead.

The death toll from the flood disaster was confirmed by the Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday.

The state Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr Ayibaina Duba, confirmed the incident while commiserating with the families of the victims.

Meanwhile, the paramount ruler of the community, Mr Righteous Inegbagha, called on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to mitigate the impacts of the flood on the people.

He said the flood disaster had not only rendered thousands of his subjects homeless but had also affected their sources of livelihood, with other economic activities also paralysed.

“Our people cannot visit their farms due to the ravaging effects of the disaster,” he said.

Inegbagha expressed regret that for about a week, people of the community have been residing in their water-lodged houses.

He emphasised the need for government to provide relief materials, such as food, clothes, and drugs for the affected people, adding that they should be evacuated to temporary camps to save them and their property.

The traditional ruler said that his palace, which used to play host to some of the victims, had now been made inhabitable due to over-crowding and lack of enough space.

The Star