Two dead, 18 communities submerged as flood ravages Nasarawa

Torrential rains and the overflow of the River Benue have killed at least two people and submerged more than 18 communities in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, displacing thousands of residents. The disaster has destroyed homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure, cutting off access to essential services for populations in the Eke Development Area. State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Nawani Aboki, confirmed the death toll and the scale of the devastation during a press briefing in Lafia, the state capital, on Monday. He stated that the flooding was triggered by heavy rainfall combined with rising water levels in the river. While initial reports indicated that eight communities were submerged, subsequent assessments revealed that seven additional settlements were also underwater, bringing the total count to over eighteen. The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency, known as NASEMA, previously estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 residents had been displaced across eleven communities. However, the expanded list of affected areas suggests the humanitarian crisis is broader than initially thought. Displaced families have fled to neighboring settlements situated on higher ground, including Agyema, Agbachi, and Rukubi. These host communities are now under strain as they attempt to accommodate the sudden influx of refugees. Access to the flooded zones has become extremely difficult. The main road connecting Doma to the affected areas is reportedly impassable. Officials and residents seeking to reach certain locations must detour through Makurdi, the capital of neighboring Benue State, before traveling by boat to the final destinations. This disruption isolates the victims and complicates the delivery of aid. Beyond the loss of life, the flooding has obliterated agricultural land and residential structures. Many residents rely on farming for their livelihoods, and the destruction of crops threatens to exacerbate food insecurity in the region if the water persists. The physical destruction has compounded the psychological and economic trauma faced by the population. In response to the crisis, Governor Abdullahi Sule has ordered the Executive Secretary and Director-General of NASEMA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage. The official tasked with this mission is required to submit a detailed report to guide the state government’s recovery efforts. Aboki indicated that the administration is preparing to distribute relief materials and implement measures to prevent disease outbreaks among both the displaced and the host populations. During his briefing, Aboki described the event as massive flooding rather than typical seasonal inundation. He expressed hope that the waters would recede soon, allowing residents to resume their daily lives. However, he issued a stern warning against returning to homes prematurely. Authorities fear that additional water could be released from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, which sits upstream on the Benue River. Such a release could worsen the flooding conditions in downstream communities. Aboki noted that the clustering of smaller communities around larger settlements like Agyema and Rukubi has intensified the pressure on local resources. He mentioned visiting the area recently with the local government chairman to offer condolences to the bereaved. The state government awaits the completion of the ongoing damage assessment to determine the specific scale of assistance required. Until the waters fully retreat, residents in flood-prone zones are advised to remain on elevated ground to avoid further danger.