Residents along the banks of Rivers Niger and Benue in Lokoja, Kogi State are now gripped with fear of possibility of flooding as the water level in both rivers rose to 9.2 centimetre, threatening to overflow their banks.
A statement in Lokoja by Kogi State Ministry of the Environment, confirmed that the water level in both rivers was close to the 9.9 centimetres, which led to the 2012 flooding.
“With this development, flooding is very likely in some communities along rivers Niger and Benue and their tributaries.”
The statement, signed by Dorathy Onoja, Public Relations Officer of the ministry, advised residents living along river plains to immediately relocate to higher grounds for safety of their lives and property.
It was observed that some of the apprehensive residents are already in panics.
The 2012 flood ravaged 43 communities in nine local government areas of the state. No less than 33 persons lost their lives, while properties including houses, livestock and farms worth billions of naira, were destroyed in the disaster. [myad]
