Flood destroys 236 houses, farms in Benue

Residents in some communities in Otukpo, headquarters of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, groan in pains, as no fewer than 236 residential buildings were destroyed, with farms and household effects worth millions of naira have been washed away by flood, following a torrential rain fall in the area.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the rain, which lasted for several hours on Tuesday, affected villages which included Otukpo-Icho, where 92 houses were destroyed, Otukpo-Nobi, 67; Upu, 55; Emichi, 6; Amla, 5; Odudaje, 8 and Okpomaju 3.
It will be recalled that the state government had recently raised the alarm of impending flood in some areas including Otukpo and warned the residents who livedclose to water log to vacate the areas.According to residents of the area, the flood had prevented residents of Odudaje, Okpomaju, Amla and Emichi from moving out, as the bridge linking the communities from Otukpo-Icho had been flooded.
The district head of Otukpo council, Och'Ochtukpo Odu, Chief John Eiminye, speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in telephone conversation on Thursday, expressed worry about the development, which he said had forced several people to become destitutes in their own homeland.
According to the paramount ruler, no casualty had been recorded. He also expressed satisfaction with the prompt response from the State Emergency Management Authourity (SEMA), whose officials he said arrived the affected communities to asess the level of damage.