Flood: Bayelsa IDPs now cook inside canoes

The people of Adagbabiri community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State displaced from their homes by floods are now cooking inside canoes as most homes and plain land have been taken over by water.

The people who described flooding as a yearly occurrence, are calling on the state and federal governments to come to their aid by putting necessary measures to forestall future disasters and to provide relief materials for them.

Some residents told Niger Delta Trust that this year's flooding exceeded what they experienced in 2018.

Some displaced persons, including Elder Fresh Esuku, the Community Development Committee Chairman, Mr. Preye Awolowo Clarkson, described flooding as a perennial disaster, as some community folks had to suspend their valuables to prevent them from being destroyed, while others take refuge in uncompleted structures.

Another victim, Mr. Francis Aladou, who cooks inside a canoe after his house was submerged, appealed for immediate relief such as food items, water, medication and a camp.

He, however, said the permanent solution to flooding in the state was the dredging of the River Niger and its tributaries.

As at the time Niger Delta Trust visited Adagbabiri, most houses, including school buildings, health and worship centres and town hall had all been flooded.