Simon Ebegbulem
22 September 2008
Over twenty houses collapsed, while four children were feared dead yesterday in Benin City, after a heavy rainfall that lasted for over five hours. It was tears in almost every part of the city as families either lament the flood that took over their homes or searching for their children.
At Aruosa street, where Vanguard and The Punch offices were located, three children were declared missing after the flood took over four houses in that particular street while a four year old boy also declared missing at Apostolic Lane, Sakpoba road. It was pretty difficult to search for the missing children because of the level of the water.
Three of the children are Hausa indigenes. However, youths of the area are combing the waters for the missing children, just as the parents appealed to the state government to provide relief materials for them.
Father of the missing three, Mohamed lamented that "we were all inside the house when the rain started but suddenly the roof of our house blew off and rain started entering. Before we knew it, the whole house became flooded and we started and that was when the children tried to run outside but the flood covered them and that was how we started looking for them now."
Other areas seriously affected by the heavy down pour included the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Textile Mill road, Upper Sakpoba, Medical Store Road and Ugbowo.
As a matter of fact, the road leading to the state government House in GRA was not spared by the flood. The flood took over the two gates along the golf course road.
But in a swift reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Mr Dan Aigbavboa described the flood incident as shocking and assured that the state government would do all it could to ensure that relief came to the affected victims.
According to him, "you know that this has always been our problem in this state and you will agree with me that it was worst before the coming of this administration."
A lot of efforts have been made to construct roads and open up the gutters. And we are seeing the difference. But it is just that the rain this morning was quite heavy and that is why we are hearing some of this ugly stories.
But we are glad we have a Governor that is puts the problem of the people first before any other thing, therefore be rest assured that the situation will be looked into and appropriate action will be taken".
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Sarah Adetugboubgou could not be reached when Vanguard contacted her. Vanguard was informed by her Personal Assistant that she was in a meeting when a call was passed through to her.
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