Heavy downpour destroys flood in Bayelsa State

Heavy downpour destroy homes of residents, in Biseni clan in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Fish farms, farmlands, crops, homes and church buildings have been overtaken by the rampaging water, compelling many residents to move out of their houses.

The residents appealed to the government to sand-fill the community as well as construct embankment to save them from the perennial flooding in the area.

Biseni is one of the clans in the Yenagoa LGA located along the Taylor Creek, an arm of the River Niger.

The clan is made up of about 10 communities, most of them located on low-lying plains, making them susceptible to flooding, especially from September to November each year.

During the 2012 floods, the communities were among the worst hit in the country with water submerging most houses, roads and other infrastructure.

It was learnt that the flood level appeared to have been more than what was experienced in the last four years as explained by the community folks.

A resident, Mrs. Kuroyinaya Aniedima, stated that their homes as well as their farmlands had been flooded, forcing them to resort to premature harvesting of their crops.

An owner of a fish farm, Chief Ishmael Osakwe, said that socio-economic life in the area had been disrupted by the floods.

“We need help urgently. The floods have wreaked serious havoc in the area. The situation has put us on the edge. Many residents have lost their valuables and means of livelihood to the rampaging floods,” Osakwe stated.

The paramount ruler of Akudonu community, Chief Jena Nduka, and his predecessor, 80-year-old Chief Nicholas Aniedima, appealed to government and relevant authorities to come to their rescue and find a lasting solution to the problem.

Some other communities visited in Biseni, Ikarama, Okordia and Kaiama in Kolokuma Opokuma LGA, were also affected by the flood waters which are rising by the day.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )