by James Sambo

Heavy rains flooded parts of Gwagwalada, an Abuja suburb, Friday, submerging homes and shops, residents and the police said. Victims of the downpour which ravaged many parts of Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja on Sunday called on the Federal Government to assist them.

The rainstorm destroyed over a hundred houses, displacing many residents. At Angwan Bassa area, many houses were completely submerged. There was a traffic gridlock on the busy New Kutunku and Park Roads, caused by water that flooded the roads.

Commercial activities were also disrupted as water surged into most shops in the area, sweeping away goods and valuables said to be worth millions of Naira.

Some of victims who agreed to be interviewed bemoaned their plight, saying that the flood had become an annual occurrence and appealed to government to come to their aid. Salisu Alibani, a resident of Angwan Azara area, said he saw a teenage boy in his neighbourhood swept away by the flood when he went out to watch the rampaging flood.

Shukarat Abdulrahaman said the flood destroyed her valuables as her belongings were swept away.

“The rainstorm and accompanying flood destroyed virtually all that I have laboured for over the years as almost everything in my house was either destroyed or swept away.

“As you can see, my entire compound is littered with evidence of the havoc caused by the flood; the bedrooms, sitting room and all the corners of the building were affected.

“Oh God, I am finished, what am I going to do now?” she lamented.

Abdulrahaman appealed to the relevant authorities to come to her aid, adding that she had yet to recover from the losses she suffered from last year’s similar disaster since received no help.

Another victim, Roseline Joshua, sat outside her desolate compound weeping. She explained that all the goods she bought from the market worth millions of Naira a few days back were washed away by the flood.

“As it is, I do not know where to start from. I returned from the market two days ago, now all the food items worth N7 million have been washed by the flood,” she said.

The Gwagwalada Divisional Police Officer, Patrick Daaor confirmed Alibani’s statement. He advised residents to leave flood prone areas to avoid further loss of lives and property as well as report cases of missing persons.

YEditor