Flood, windstorm ravage Ebonyi communities, destroy farmlands, property

Residents of several communities in Ebonyi State are counting their losses after a torrential downpour accompanied by a violent windstorm caused widespread destruction in Abakaliki, the state capital, and Akpoha Community in Afikpo North Local Government Area.

The rain, which lasted for more than four hours on Saturday, triggered severe flooding that submerged farmlands along the Abakaliki–Afikpo Expressway, while strong winds tore off the roofs of shops and damaged property valued at millions of naira.

Farmers in the affected communities said the flood devastated large portions of their crops, including yam, cassava, maize, rice, and melon, raising concerns about food production and their livelihoods.

One of the victims, Mr. Cletus Idam, said the disaster came after days of persistent rainfall in the area, wiping out investments made during the current farming season.

“We invested huge sums of money in our farms, but everything has been washed away by the flood. To ensure food production, we may have to start planting all over again if the flood recedes,” he said.

Idam appealed to the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to visit the affected communities and assess the extent of the destruction.

He noted that communities, including Afikpo, Amasiri, Akpoha, and surrounding areas, had experienced heavy rainfall in recent days, leading to extensive damage to farmland.

“We are predominantly farmers. We cultivate our crops early to support all-season farming, but regrettably, the flood has destroyed everything. After the rainfall, we visited our farms and discovered that all the crops had been swept away,” he added.

In Abakaliki, traders also suffered significant losses as the accompanying windstorm damaged commercial buildings and exposed goods to rainwater.

A trader at Kpirikpiri Market, Mrs. Chioma Ifeanyi, said several shops were left without roofs, forcing traders to hurriedly salvage their wares.

“The rainstorm caused extensive damage. Many shop owners lost valuable goods, while traders dealing in electrical appliances recorded huge losses after their products were soaked by rainwater,” she said.

Another farmer, Mr. Sunday Ewa, called on the Ebonyi State Government to provide relief materials and agricultural support to affected farmers.

“We need assistance in the form of farm inputs, chemicals and improved seeds to enable us return to our farms. Farming is our major source of livelihood, and we cannot afford to give up despite these losses,” he said.

Ewa lamented that communities such as Afikpo, Amasiri and Akpoha remain highly vulnerable to flooding due to their terrain, noting that farmers experience similar losses almost every year.

“Whenever there is heavy rainfall, our farmlands become submerged. We lose most of our crops annually to flooding, and this has become a major challenge for farmers in the area,” he said.

A community leader, Chief Joseph Irem, expressed concern over the recurring flooding and its implications for food security in the state.

He said community leaders would formally notify relevant government agencies and seek urgent intervention for affected residents.

“Following Saturday’s rainfall, some of us visited the affected farms to assess the level of destruction. The damage is enormous and poses a serious threat to agricultural production and food security in the state.

“We will engage other stakeholders and submit a formal report to the appropriate authorities. We are optimistic that both the Ebonyi State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will come to the aid of the affected farmers and residents,” he said.

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