River Niger has over flooded its banks submerging 12 communities in Etsako Central and Etsako East local government areas in Edo State
The communities affected are Udaba-Ekphei, Anegbette, Ukpeko Orle, Ofukpo, Agbabu, Osomegbe, Udochi, Yelwa, Ake Island and Ifeku Islay.
The river washed away farms of rice, cassava, vegetables, potatoes, ground nuts and others just as locals have lamented that churches, mosques, markets and schools were consumed by the flood.
They are calling on the state and federal governments to urgently intervene in their plight.
An Udaba villager, Mr Isaac Omoaka, said the flood was worse than that of 2012.
Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Osasere Evboumwan, said relevant agencies had visited the places and were compiling their reports.
Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Edo State, Dahiru Yussuf, said, “We have a local contact in the local government area who gives daily reports on what is going on here.
“We have food and non-food items for people to be evacuated to assist them. We are ready to move in.
