Flood: Thieves, reptiles threaten lives in Bayelsa community 

Residents of Otuoke, Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa, say they are living in danger due to the recent flood crisis. 

The community, the hometown of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been overrun by floods, leading to the displacement of many.

According to NAN, Azibalua Oru, one of the victims, said the flood has led to the dispatch of reptiles around the community, threatening the lives of residents.

He said most of their properties were damaged and called on the federal and state governments, as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to come to their aid.

Emmanuel Peter, another resident, who also called for aid from the government and security agencies, added that thieves are looting their properties.

On his assessment visit to the community, Duoye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, said: “this is what I’ve been saying over and over, Bayelsa is under attack, attack of natural disaster”.

“The whole premises of the former president and the whole community is under attack. And this is where you also have the federal university, Otuoke. The former president himself is an IDP, an internally displaced person.”

In another development, the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed that 23 persons lost their lives to flooding and windstorms in 25 local government areas of the state.

According to NAN, Saleh Jili, executive secretary of the agency, said this in Kano on Friday at an event to mark Disaster Risk Reduction Day.

Jili said since April, the disaster has displaced 20,399 persons, injured 100 others, and destroyed 15,000 farmlands and property worth over N2.1 billion across the state.