By Abbas Nazil
Panic has gripped Kogi State as devastating floods have completely submerged Ibaji Local Government Area, washing away homes and displacing thousands of residents.
The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mouktar Atima, confirmed the situation and urged residents along the banks of Rivers Niger and Benue to immediately evacuate to safer grounds.
Speaking during an advocacy visit to the state’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adams Abdullazeez, in Lokoja, Atima warned that the state was entering a difficult period, with the next 72 hours expected to bring heightened risks.
He explained that water levels in both Rivers Niger and Benue had reached critical points, and experts predicted further overflow as more excess water would be released.
According to him, no fewer than 258 communities across eight Local Government Areas have been identified as highly flood-prone.
Already, five communities in Ibaji LGA—Ota, Ofogbo, Itima, and Owara—are among the worst hit, with widespread damage reported.
To mitigate the disaster, Atima revealed that 42 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps have been activated, alongside an Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate relief efforts.
He stressed that the support and level of preparedness must not relent if the state is to repeat last year’s achievement of recording zero casualties during flooding.
In response, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abdullazeez, assured residents that the Health Ministry was fully mobilized to handle the unfolding crisis.
He disclosed that fumigation had already commenced across all 42 IDP camps to prevent outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
“We are aware of possible epidemics in the camps, but we are prepared,” Abdullazeez stated, commending Governor Usman Ododo for his proactive measures that had saved lives in the past.
The Health Commissioner emphasized that the Ministry’s preparedness was part of a broader collaboration with SEMA to minimize casualties and safeguard displaced persons.
Atima echoed this call, urging residents in flood-prone areas to comply with evacuation orders and move into designated camps without delay.
He maintained that last year’s success in preventing fatalities was the result of coordinated efforts between government agencies and community members, stressing that such vigilance must be sustained this year.
The current flooding in Ibaji is part of what experts describe as one of the most severe flood seasons in recent years.
Thousands of residents have already lost homes, farmlands, and sources of livelihood, with the disaster raising concerns about food security and economic recovery in the state.
As the floods continue to spread, authorities fear that the scale of destruction could worsen unless residents heed warnings and relocate to safety.
The unfolding situation has left communities in shock, highlighting the urgent need for continued government intervention, humanitarian support, and disaster preparedness.
