Mr Dondo Ahile, Benue Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, says a three-year-old boy allegedly drowned in a flood following a heavy downpour in the early hours of Thursday in Makurdi.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ahile told newsmen, while assessing the impact of the flood in Wurukum area of Makurdi, that the child was identified as Tervershima.
He said that the incident was reported to him during the inspection of the area.
According to him, the state government has identified the cause of the flood to be blocked culverts and narrow channels that are too small to handle the volume of water in the affected areas.
Ahile said that the government would do everything to solve the problem.
He urged people living along flood-prone areas to vacate such areas as soon as possible to prevent further disasters.
The commissioner said “As a government, we are will try to address some of the causes before the main rain comes.
“People living along flood-prone areas should vacate the areas as government cannot be able relocate everybody at a time.”
The flood submerged Wurukum Market, Wurukum Park, Living Faith Church, and Pleasure Travels Park in Wurukum.
Others places affected are Gyado, Villa village, Villa Suit Hotel, parts of Idye and Achusa village, amongst others, causing destruction to many houses and property.
NAN reports that flood has become an annual challenge to the people of Makurdi.
In 2017, flood destroyed many houses and property in over 15 local government areas in the state.
A trader at the Wurukum Market, Mr John Eze said his entire shop with goods worth about N2 million had been submerged leaving him with nothing.
Eze said he was called to his shop by another trader over the development.
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