Flood ravaged Infant Jesus area of Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday night killing two teenagers identified as Martins and Chioma.
It was gathered that the two childhood friends lived in the same neighborhood, where their parents also lived for over ten years before their birth.
The flood, which reportedly swept away properties worth millions of naira, was said to swept Martins and Chioma into gutter where they drowned, and gave up the ghost even before they were taken to the hospital.
Investigation revealed that Infant Jesus area, among others, was worst hit during the latest flood menace in Asaba and its environs leaving sacked residents to suffer untold hardship.
Although the state government had relocated many of the flood victims to various IDPs camps within Asaba and beyond, the situation at Infant Jesus area has been very pathetic as most of the residents, who spoke to DAILY POST on condition of anonymity, described the camps as “disasters” adding that they cannot stay in where there are no security men to protect them.
But the state Commissioner for Special Duties, who also is the Chairman of IDPs camps, Barr Earnest Ogwezzy dispelled as untrue the claim by the displaced persons that there was no security for them.
Ogwezzy, who spoke to journalists on Thursday in Asaba, said: “Delta State government has provided for the flood victims including adequate security network. If there are casualties, it means it is as a result of disobedience. It’s unfortunate that some residents have refused to vacate flood prone areas, and whatsoever happened to them, they are on their own.”
Given an account of the flooding, a resident, Philip Osigwe said, “our rooms have been taken over by flood, the water is just coming out from the ground, and our properties destroyed”.
It was further gathered that the rampaging water was about 100 meters away from the victims’ apartments when they were going to the school in the morning, but in less than seven hours later, when they returned from school, their apartments had been totally submerged.
It was in an attempt to join others in moving out that Martins and Chioma were reportedly swept into the drainage, and subsequently gave up the ghost.
As at the time of this report, sorrows and tears have rented the entire Infant Jesus area, especially the houses of the victims as both parents refused to speak to journalists.
The Delta State government had in the past few weeks been warning residents of flood-prone areas to vacate and move into the IDPs camps, but its warnings seemingly fell on deaf ears, as many of the affected residents alleged that the IDPs camps are too messy for them to stay in.
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