Metro

Flood Submerges Houses In Anambra Communities

Published

9 months ago

October 31, 2024

Editor

Many houses located in flood-prone communities in five different local government areas across Anambra State have been submerged by flood following the rising water level from the River Niger and other related water activities.

Five local government areas have been affected by the flood including the Anambra West, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Awka North and Ayamelum local government areas.

Videos and pictures currently trending on social media show residents, including children wading through the waters, with submerged houses, markets, churches, schools, and other private and public facilities.

In one of the videos, a resident in one of the badly hit communities of Mmiata-Anam, Anambra West LGA, identified as Nnoru Anaekwe, narrated how residents of the community now paddle or ride in wooden canoes to their destinations, as major parts of the community and the local government area have been flooded.

One of the videos also showed when the Deputy Local Government Chairman of the Anambra West Local Government Area, Mrs Edith Ndive, was riding in a wooden canoe to her house.

Another video also captured some flood-submerged school buildings, as well as children paddling canoes and swimming in the flood.

In 2023 over 40 people reportedly died in a boat mishap that occurred along the Mmiata-Anam river, Anambra West LGA, when their boat hit a bridge and capsized in the waters.

The boat hit the bridge as a result of the rising water level. The victims of that tragedy were mostly women and children who were escaping to safer ground.

When contacted on the development, on Thursday, the State Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, said the state government and relevant authorities were aware of the situation and were already providing necessary interventions.

Odimegwu said the water level had risen in the past few weeks, noting that the situation is being monitored.

He said, “The Anambra State Government Flood Management Team with personnel from NEMA, SEMA, International Organisation for Migration and the Red Cross Society are moving around collecting data on the situation at the Internally Displaced Persons camps.

“The state government has provided some interventions and relief materials so far to the people, with over 27 camps so far activated.

“No fewer than five local government areas have so far been affected by the flood, which include the Anambra West, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Awka North, and Ayamelum local government areas.”

According to him, the state government is better prepared for the flood, adding that the Ministry and the entire Flood Management Team have been issuing early warning signals almost every two days, showing the water level is rising.

The commissioner said the state received relief materials, including about 2,400 cartons of food items from Bank of Industries, adding that the food items comprised noodles, vegetable oil, Semovita, flour, salt and sugar.

He said these materials were distributed on Tuesday to the five local governments under threat at the moment.

Although he could not ascertain the total number of displaced persons so far, the commissioner said that the data were being generated, as the missions have been moving around the area since Tuesday.

He added, “Water level has risen in the past few weeks. We are monitoring the situation. Meanwhile a team of ANSG Flood Management Team with those from NEMA, SEMA, IOM, Red Cross, are moving around collecting data of the situation at the IDP camps.

“Because of early warning signals, we have been issuing out signals every two days displaying the water levels as it changes, we were better prepared. Many of the residents have moved to higher grounds and sorted shelter with their friends and relations. Others are at IDP camps.

“We have activated 27 camps. And the camps are ready to receive displaced persons as they come.

“The state has also received bags of beans, rice, noodles from Church of Jesus Latter Day Saints. These will be distributed any moment from now to the camps.

“The local government mayors are actively involved in making sure that adequate basic supplies are provided, that feeding is activated at the camps.”

Related Topics:Anambra Flood Flood flooding

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Metro

Hotel Under Construction Collapses In Edo Kills Owner

Published

11 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck in the Idumoza community, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, as a hotel building under construction caved in, killing its owner, identified as Andrew Isesere.

The incident occurred last Friday while Isesere was reportedly inside the building.

Over 20 workers who were also at the site narrowly escaped death, according to eyewitnesses.

The lifeless body of the owner was recovered from the debris on Sunday morning.

Neighbours in the area expressed concern over the quality of materials used in the construction, noting that warnings had previously been issued to the deceased.

Andrew Inegbebor, a resident who spoke to reporters, said, “The owner was told he was using low quality material. He used 12mm instead of 16mm rods for the pillars. There was no base basket at the pillars. Look at the result.”

“The building collapsed because of substandard materials that were used. There was no engineer on site. The dead owner supervised the house. The house later collapsed and killed him , but some workers escaped,” he added.

At the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said that he had not received a briefing on the incident.

Metro

Police Arrest Stolen Phone Tracker-altering Gang In Imo

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

The Imo State Police Command has dismantled a cult gang that specialised in phone theft, burglary, and altering the tracking device of phones in Eziobodo, in the Owerri West Local Government Area.

This is even as the Command has arrested several people linked to various phone robberies within the Owerri federal constituency.

Police spokesperson for Imo State command, DSP Henry Okoye, made the disclosure on Saturday morning.

Okoye disclosed that following a complaint by a phone dealer whose shop was burgled on July 11th, 2025, within Eziobodo, operatives of the Anti-Vice commenced an investigation that led to the arrest of a suspect with four brand new but stolen phones.

Intense investigation led the Police to the principal burglar behind the robbery and another accomplice who specialised in altering phone IMEI, which blocks the tracking of such phones.

Okoye said, “Following a complaint by a phone dealer whose shop in Eziobodo was burgled on 11th July 2025, operatives of the Anti-Vice Unit arrested a suspect in possession of four brand-new stolen phones. Investigations led to the arrest of the principal burglar and another accomplice who specialised in altering phone IMEI numbers to evade tracking”.

He disclosed that all the suspects arrested are currently in custody, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend other members of the syndicate.

Okoye said in another development, operatives of the Orji Police Station on July 31st, 2025, at about 9pm (2100hrs) arrested one Ernest Nweke ‘m’ at Bishop’s Court roundabout, in the Owerri North LGA, following a distress call from concerned citizens.

The suspect, who is a native of Umuoji in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State but resident in the World Bank area of Owerri, was arrested with a locally fabricated pistol after he and three others allegedly robbed one Emmanuel FearGod ‘m’ of Fountain of Knowledge Hostel.

Okoye said, “Nweke, who confessed to being a member of the Vikings cult group, was identified by the victim and arrested while the others fled. Based on his confession, four other suspects: Chamberlain Prince, Akujuobi Godwin, Ugwuelu Joseph, and Frederick Chigozie were arrested the next morning and also confessed to the crime. All suspects are currently undergoing investigation and will be duly prosecuted in court”.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has commended the officers for their swift action and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to fight crime.

The Police boss urged residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest Police Station or through 0803 477 3600.

Metro

Police Arrest Fleeing Anambra Suspected Kidnapper In Kaduna

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, John Chinagorom, who is said to have been on the Command’s wanted list.

A statement released on Saturday by the Anambra State Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect was arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State, with the assistance of the Kaduna State Police Command.

Ikenga said his arrest followed a credible intelligence received by operatives of the Ozubulu Police Division on August 1, that the suspect, who is linked to a kidnapping case in Anambra, was sighted at PZ Park Road, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The statement read in part, “The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the public that its officers, with the assistance of the Kaduna State Police Command, have arrested John Chinagorom ‘M’, a suspected kidnapper, who has been on the Command’s wanted list.

“This follows a credible intelligence received by operatives of the Ozubulu Police Division at noon of 1st August 2025, that the suspect, John Chinagorom, who is linked to a kidnapping Case reported on 15th April 2025, was sighted at PZ Park Road, Zaria, Kaduna State.

“Acting swiftly on the information, a team of Police detectives from the Division was dispatched, and they successfully apprehended the suspect at his hideout in Zaria, with the assistance of officers of the Kaduna State Police Command.

“The suspect is currently in custody and is assisting the Police in the ongoing investigation.”

He urged the general public to remain calm, assuring them that the security situation in the state is under control as joint security patrols and other crime prevention operations are ongoing.

“Meanwhile, the general security situation across other parts of the State remains calm, as counter-terrorism and other crime prevention operations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course,” he added.