Millions lost as flooding, windstorm ravage parts of Ebonyi

Environment, Weather

ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — Torrential rainfall and a powerful windstorm have destroyed farmlands and damaged shops in parts of Ebonyi State, leaving farmers and traders counting losses worth millions of naira.

The over four-hour downpour on Saturday night triggered severe flooding along the Abakaliki–Afikpo Expressway, submerging farmlands in Abakaliki and Akpoha Community in Afikpo North Local Government Area.

Affected farmers said the flood washed away yams, cassava, maize, rice, melons, and other crops, wiping out investments made during the current planting season.

One of the victims, Cletus Idam, described the incident as devastating, saying many farmers had lost their entire investments.

“We invested huge sums of money in our farms, but everything has been washed away. We may have to replant if the flood recedes,” he said.

Idam appealed to the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assess the damage and provide support to affected communities.

Another farmer, Sunday Ewa, urged the state government to provide relief materials, improved seedlings, agrochemicals and other farm inputs to enable farmers return to cultivation.

According to him, the Afikpo, Amasiri and Akpoha communities remain highly vulnerable to flooding due to their geographical location.

A community leader, Chief Joseph Irem, described the destruction as a major threat to agricultural production and food security in the area.

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

Irem expressed optimism that both the Ebonyi State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would provide relief assistance to victims.

Meanwhile, a windstorm accompanying the rainfall caused extensive damage to commercial buildings in parts of Abakaliki, blowing off roofs and exposing goods to rainwater.

At Kpiri-Kpiri Market, traders reported significant losses, particularly those dealing in electrical appliances and other vulnerable goods.

A trader, Chioma Ifeanyi, said many shop owners suffered heavy losses after their goods were damaged by rainwater.

“The rainstorm caused extensive damage and many traders lost valuable goods,” she said.

Similar losses were recorded at the popular Ebebe Junction Evening Market in Amike-Aba Community, where makeshift stalls were destroyed by strong winds.

Traders Patricia Onwe, Iruka Ede and Pauline Iteshi said the windstorm ripped off the roofs of their shops, destroying goods worth hundreds of thousands of naira.

“We depend on proceeds from our businesses to feed our families and pay our children’s school fees. We need urgent government intervention,” the traders said.

The victims appealed to relevant government agencies and humanitarian organisations to provide relief assistance to help them recover from the disaster.