BY Ebunoluwa Olafusi
Benedict Uzo, a nine-year-old girl, was swept away by a flood in Amiyi, Ogbaru local government area of Anambra state, on Wednesday.
According to Arinze Awogu, chairman of Ogbaru LGA, the girl drowned while fetching water with a bucket.
He said Benedict’s sister, who tried rescuing her, almost lost her life in the process but was quickly saved by neighbours.
“The flood situation in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra state has continued to take a turn for the worst and Ogbaru has lost two persons since it started,” he said.
“The latest casualty is nine-year-old Miss Uzo Benedict Onyebuchukwu, a primary 3 pupil of light international school, Okoti.
“The father of the victim, Mr Izuchukwu Uzo, told me that his daughter was swept away by the flood as she attempted to fetch water with her bucket.”
He said the council will set up an emergency call for a proactive response team to effectively handle emergencies.
The chairman urged people in flood-prone areas to vacate their homes and move to safer areas or the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps.
“We need better equipped hospital to enable us manage this emergency,” he said.
“It is a sad moment for us, we assure the family of our solidarity and support in this time of grief; I promise to inform His Excellency, Governor Willie Obaino about the loss.”
Some states have been experiencing flooding as a result of heavy rainfalls that caused rivers Niger and Benue to overflow.
On September 17, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) declared the flooding in four states as national disasters.
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