—-Victims Seek Government Interventions
By Agbo Amauche, Abakaliki
The residents of Azuoto Okpuitumo village, Okpuitumo Community in Abakaliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State have cried out in a loud voice following the destruction of farm lands by heavy flood that has lasted for not less than seven days.
Our correspondent reports that rice, cassava, yam amounting to millions of naira were seriously damaged by the flood.
The development has subjected the people to untold hardship thereby causing Perpetual hunger among the villagers as there is no way to access their farm lands nor any available food to eat.
It was gathered that the village in question were surrounded by Ebonyi and Oto rivers respectively in which water usually overflew and escalated to farm lands causing destruction of crops hence this year’s own seems to be worst coupled with the present economic crisis rocking the Country.
It was further gathered that the villagers witness flood two to three times every month from June-October annually and presently there is no accessible road to the village, as it was observed that they always follow Ndi-nwogba Amachi village in Amachi Community as the only alternative way to enter their village which cost them a lot.
Recall that the only road leading to the village from Okpuitumo Community is blocked by Oto river and every efforts by the villagers and Okpuitumo Community to construct bridge in the river for over ten years ago proved abortive.
Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims Chief Alfred Agbo who described the situation as very worrisome, noted that this year’s flood was the biggest the village ever had, saying that his farm including rice, cassava and yam were completely destroyed by the flood disaster.
Other victims ncluding Mrs Falicia Akpa, Mr Sunday Agbo, Mr Simon Nwogha, Mr Godwin Ogbonna, Mr Joseph Ota among others hinted they labored in vain every year in the village as a result of excessive flood.
According to them, the development has badly affected the sponsorship of their children in the school, hence farming remains their only source of income.
The victims further called on Federal and State Governments and well spirited individuals to come to their aid to ameliorate their sufferings.
They also urged Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State to assisting them by constructing the Oto bridge to ease their means of livelihood.