Many homes, schools, health facilities, worship centres, roads and farmlands have been submerged by the rampaging flood waters
Flood has displaced thousands of people from their homes in Biseni Kingdom in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Most of the victims from several communities across Biseni have sought refuge on roads, makeshift camps and a bridge. They have sent a passionate save our souls cry to the federal and state governments to come to their rescue.
Many homes, schools, health facilities, worship centres, roads and farmlands have been submerged by the rampaging flood waters
From Kilama to Perebiri-Ayahkumo, Egbebiri and Tuburu communities, the story is the same for many residents who look traumatized as their houses and property have been submerged by the flood from Rivers Niger and Benue as well as the Orashi River.
The house of the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Mr. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, was not spared either as it has been overtaken by flood.
The Ibedaowei of Biseni clan, King David Obuma, a former Majority Leader in the State House of Assembly, said they feel abandoned as the floods have brought serious hunger and shelter issues to the area.
As a short-term solution, he urged the government to help the people to fill some places with sand so as to provide places of refuge for people.
He also urged the government to construct embankments and dams as a long-term solution to the problem.
Also, King Akile Peter Debekeme, the Pere of Biseni, lamented that despite playing host to several oil wells and gas facilities, the people of the kingdom continue to be at the receiving end of flood disasters every year.
The monarch called for government’s intervention through the provision of relief materials and construction of internally displaced persons’ camps in the area.
Some of the displaced persons include the secretary to the chiefs’ council, Oweifa Godday and Ere Konugha, who are taking refuge at a temporary shelter on a bridge.
According to them, they are distressed and confused as they are separated from their families.
Deputy Executive Director of the advocacy group, Environmental Defenders Network, Chief Alagoa Morris, who led a team of journalists to assess the flood situation, described the conditions of the Biseni people as pathetic.
He called for urgent action from government at the federal and state levels as well as interventionist agencies.
Apart from Biseni, communities in Epie Kingdom, Sampou in Kolokuma-Opokuma, Sagbama and Ogbia are also affected by the flooding in Bayelsa State.
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