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Flooded Communities In Anambra Decry Government Neglect

Investigations by SaharaReporters have revealed that residents of heavily flooded riverine plains in Anambra State have received no relief material or even attention by the Federal and state governments.

Investigations by SaharaReporters have revealed that residents of heavily flooded riverine plains in Anambra State have received no relief material or even attention by the Federal and state governments.

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Our correspondent reports that the Anambra, Ogbaru, Anyamelum, Anam and other areas of the lower Niger have deluged by heavy flooding. “Anam and several other communities in the area are totally covered by water,” said an eyewitness, who traveled through the area in a canoe. He added that the people of the worst affected areas said they had not seen any state or federal officials in their area, nor have they received relief materials.

“What kind of government would abandon its own people in their hour of need?” asked an official of a church group that toured the devastated areas. “The situation in Anam and other places is dire,” he added, stating that he could not see one inch of dry earth in Anam.

The flooding crisis followed recent heavy downpours that caused rivers to flow over their banks, leaving large parts of Anambra and Kogi states under water.

One of our sources disclosed that the flooding has totally destroyed farmlands in the affected areas which are some of Nigeria’s most important food-producing regions. In addition, the extensive fishing industry in the areas has been badly affected by the flooding, according to a source we spoke to in Ogbaru. “How can we do fishing when our homes are swimming in water,” the man asked.

A source in Anam decried the absence of relief efforts by the governments. According to him, the people “have been reduced to the most basic existence and there is not one sign of government in sight.”
 

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