Two children have died and 14 villages have been affected by severe flooding in Mpu and Okpanku communities in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The flooding began on Sunday evening and became worse on Tuesday and Wednesday following more than 48 hours of heavy rainfall. Residents were forced to leave their homes and move their belongings to safer locations.
The two victims, brothers aged seven and eight, were reportedly swept away by floodwaters two days before the situation became more severe. Another report also claimed that a child from Obiagu Okomigbo in Mpu drowned, although the circumstances and identity of the victim had not been officially confirmed.
More than 10 buildings have reportedly collapsed, while large areas of farmland, including rice and yam farms, have been submerged. Several shops and rice mills at Afor Okpanku Market have also remained underwater.
Floodwaters have taken over the popular Ivo Bridge, cutting off movement between Mpu and Okpanku. Some villages in Okpanku have also been isolated from other parts of the community.
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Obinna Ogbuke, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Enugu State and a native of Mpu, described the flooding as the worst he had witnessed in the area.
He said eight villages in Okpanku and six in Mpu had been affected, with several houses submerged. According to him, officials from the National Emergency Management Agency and the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency visited the area but were unable to cross some affected sections.
Some displaced residents have taken refuge in public buildings and places of worship. Residents from Mpu were reportedly staying at Amachara Town Hall, while others from Ukey Mpu moved to Ukwu Primary School. Displaced residents from Amiyi Okpanku were said to have taken shelter at a Methodist Church.
The youth leader of Okpanku, George Ahaefuna, said the flooding had destroyed crops cultivated by residents throughout the year, including rice and yam farms worth millions of naira.
A trader at Afor Okpanku Market also said goods worth millions of naira had been submerged for two days, while several homes and businesses were reportedly damaged.
The councillor representing Mpu Ward, Edwin Ogbuka, described the situation as life-threatening and called for urgent government intervention. He attributed the flooding to the overflow of water from the abandoned Ivo Dam project.
Community leader Magnus Chukwu said six villages in Mpu had been displaced, with affected families taking shelter at Amachalla Town School.
The Ivo River Dam project has previously been linked by residents to flooding in the surrounding communities. The Federal Government’s official profile describes the project as a 20-million-cubic-metre earthfill dam in Aninri and lists it as ongoing.
Residents have also raised concerns over the incomplete dam infrastructure, while previous legislative proceedings recorded concerns about possible flooding around the project during the rainy season.
Aninri Local Government Chairman, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, said he had contacted Senator Osita Ngwu and the member representing the area in the House of Representatives, Anayo Onwuegbu, about the disaster.
He said photographs of affected communities had been sent to the lawmakers and that discussions had begun with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources concerning the emergency.
Nwanjoku described the situation as unacceptable and said plans were being considered for an inspection of the affected areas.
With rainfall continuing and floodwaters yet to recede, residents are calling for urgent evacuation support, relief materials and assessment of damaged homes, farms and businesses to prevent further loss of lives.
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