By Elizabeth Vincent
YENAGOA – Residents of Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, the home town of the former Nigeria president, Goodluck Jonathan, Utuoke and its environs have been sacked by the rampaging flood that has taken over which has render many homeless.
They have called on the state government and the NEMA to urgently come to their aide by setting up IDP Camps in around the state to lessen their suffering.
According source the mostly affected areas in the state capital are, Igbogene, Edepie, Swaile, Opolo, Kpansia, Eleele, Akenfa, Kutukutu, and Agudama.
Other areas are, Utuoke and the University town, Amassoma the home of former Ijaw Nation Governor General, late DSP Alameisieya.
The flood which has crumbled economic activities in the state has become a yearly routine.
A victim of the flood who gave his name as Jacob Aaron, a civil servant lamented the hard effect of the flood which has taken over his store and apartment.
“You can see the water inside the house. Am a retired civil servant and have no other place to go to. I was only able to send my children to relatives houses, but I and my wife have to stay back”, he said
The flood which was said to have started in the earlier part of this month ,20 of September 2020 has been seen as another tragic experiences even as the state and individuals are yet to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic that has currently engrossed the economy.
Bayelsa State is mostly surrounded by water, the state has constantly suffered from flood but has not experienced this magnitude after the 2012 flood.
Mrs. Mary Oshenyen, a petty trader residing at Igbogene-yenagoa narrated how water has taken over their homes and store and kept them stranded.
“You can see the water inside the house. Am a retired civil servant and have no other place to go to. I was only able to send my children to relatives houses, but I and my wife have to stay back”, he sai.
Others who spoke to our reporter in Yenagoa said, although flood is a natural disaster, it can be controlled by opening up drainages and preparing before it comes since its now yearly .
They urged the state government and NEMA and other relevant agencies to come to their aids by making available accommodation for the less privileged one’s who do not have any means of renting houses in the non affected areas.
