Corpse, buildings washed away in Onitsha flood

Acorpse was washed away yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, following a downpour that wreaked havoc in the commercial city of the state.

Two buildings under construction were also said to have collapsed in Owelle Aja area of Obosi while vehicles, houses and properties were destroyed.

Daily Trust gathered that traders at the Onitsha International Electronics Market were adversely affected by the flood, as most areas of the market were submerged.

Speaking to newsmen, the Financial Secretary of the market, Onyeka Azubike, who said the source of the corpse was yet to be ascertained, attributed the cause of the flood to blocked drainage system.

“The flood came from Sacramori area along the Onitsha/Asaba Expressway and carried the corpse into the market because the drainage system in the market was blocked at the entrance gate behind a company adjacent to the market.

We have alerted the Okpoko Police Station and health officials of Ogbaru Local Government Area so that they will remove the corpse to enable us remove the debris for water to flow,” he said.

Also speaking, former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the market, Innocent Emenari and a trader lamented that flooding had been a recurring issue in the market since 2013.

Another trader, Mrs. Chinwe Obika queried the rationale behind the taxes they paid to government when they refused to assist them.

Photo: APBN. The President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Dr. Omede Idris (eighth left) in a group photograph with presidents of member bodies at the board meeting held in Abuja yesterday.