Heavy downpour, which began on Sunday night and lasted till the early hours of yesterday, has wreaked havoc in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, submerging over 300 houses and destroying property worth millions of Naira.

The rain, which started with a heavy storm, destroyed residential houses, churches and other public property, including school buildings. It also caused traffic gridlock along major roads and streets.

When The Guardian went round the city to assess the level of damage, it observed that the areas badly affected included Gyado Villa, parts of Judges Quarters, Idye Village, Agber Village, abattoir settlement in Wurukum and Modern Market, Logo 1 Akpehe village, Ide village opposite Zone 4 police headquarters and Kasho village along Otukpo Makurdi.

Other areas badly affected include Jerome Hwande street, Ankpa quarters extension, Ankpa ward by Demekpe, behind Customary Court of Appeal, opposite first gate Benue State University, Gboko road and Federal University of Agriculture road North-bank Makurdi and behind Modern Market.

A resident of Ide Village, Mr. Jeddah Akwua, who spoke with The Guardian, lamented the volume of the rain, saying it submerged his house and destroyed all his household items.

At a neighbouring area opposite Judges Quarters, a resident, Akaa Tsuasha, attributed the flooding to lack of proper drainage. He called on the state government to rise up to its responsibility and prevent the recurrence of flooding in the area.

Yesterday, residents of the affected areas were seen trying to relocate to safer environment or relatives’ houses for safety.

Another resident, Mr. Keddy Agbo, said the devastation caused by the rain was unimaginable, maintaining that it would take the affected households time to recover from the damage.

According to him, government at all levels, as well as good-spirited individuals and corporate organisations should come to their aid.

It was disclosed that several ecological funds made available to the state during immediate past administration were misappropriated, thereby living many drainage sites untouched.

•Story and photo of flooded part of Makurdi are courtesy of The Guardian.

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