Eight people have been confirmed dead and over 800 farmlands destroyed following a flood that ravaged a plantain plantation in Enohia Itim, Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Afikpo LGA Chairman, Timothy Nwachi, who confirmed the tragedy, condoled with the bereaved families and assured that the local government would work to prevent a recurrence. He also urged residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds, pledging collaboration with state and federal agencies for humanitarian relief.
Councilor for Itim Ward, Francis Abani Okpani, said the incident occurred on Friday, August 1, 2025. He disclosed that of the eight victims, three bodies have been recovered while five remain missing, including children. He recalled that the Federal Ministry of Environment had previously warned that Afikpo was among the areas likely to experience severe flooding.
The Ebonyi State Government has also issued a flood warning as heavy rains continue to submerge farmlands in several LGAs, including Izi, Abakaliki, and Ikwo.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier listed the state as a high-risk flood zone in its 2025 seasonal climate prediction.
Farmers in the affected areas are counting huge losses, with rice, yam, and cassava fields now underwater.
In Abakaliki, resident farmer Felix Ezeaka appealed for urgent government intervention, lamenting that repeated floods have destroyed successive crops.
Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu, blamed part of the problem in Abakaliki on an incomplete drainage project under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
He explained that poor water discharge design causes floodwater to flow back into the city.
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According to him, the government has paid its counterpart funding for the project’s next phase, EIB NUMAP, and is ramping up public awareness campaigns to guide residents on flood prevention.
