Recent intense rainstorms have caused significant destruction in Igarra, the administrative center of the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, and its neighboring villages. At least 20 homes in Igarra alone have been ruined by the rising waters.
Tragedy struck when a motorcyclist named Uche was swept away by the current while traveling from Somorika to Igarra. His body was located two days later. The flood also damaged burial sites, including one located on Okpe Road near the local police station, and submerged numerous structures for several days.
The damage extends to residential, commercial, and religious properties, including the perimeter wall of Taiwo Akerele, the former Chief of Staff to the state governor. This event marks a decade since the last major flood hit the region. Hardest-hit zones include the Iretutu, Pope Francis Road, Okpe Road, Market Road, and Rest House Road areas.
Asebe Rabi, a Ward 1 councillor, confirmed the scale of the disaster, noting that residents have lost both property and their sources of income. In response, Council Chairman Alabi Oshionogue stated that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been notified. Local authorities are currently documenting the damage and coordinating with SEMA to provide aid. Furthermore, the local government has ordered the immediate clearing of drainage systems to remove waste and debris left behind by the floods.
