Fatimah Idris, a 25yr-old mother of three from Edimose,
Lokoja, is among the 520 occupants being quartered at the Kabawa Primary School
flood camp in the Kogi State capital.
Lokoja, is among the 520 occupants being quartered at the Kabawa Primary School
flood camp in the Kogi State capital.
The young woman, who like the others
in the camp, has lost virtually all her possessions to the raging flood, has
spent the past four days in difficult conditions in the camp.
in the camp, has lost virtually all her possessions to the raging flood, has
spent the past four days in difficult conditions in the camp.
Idris and her three children sleep on
the bare floor in the night without any prevention from mosquito bites in the
open classroom now converted to an emergency room.
the bare floor in the night without any prevention from mosquito bites in the
open classroom now converted to an emergency room.
“We were brought to this place
because we have no place to go to,” Idris laments. “We lost our house in the
village. The flood has taken over the entire village and we lost everything.
because we have no place to go to,” Idris laments. “We lost our house in the
village. The flood has taken over the entire village and we lost everything.
“As you can see, we have nothing
left. We want the government to come to our aid. It is true that they are
feeding us, but we need more assistance; even when we leave here, we have
nowhere to go.”
left. We want the government to come to our aid. It is true that they are
feeding us, but we need more assistance; even when we leave here, we have
nowhere to go.”
Her story is similar to those of
several others in the camp. Reluctantly, Margaret Ekeh, 65, an Isoko indigene
from Delta State who has lived all her life in the riverine community of
Natako, Lokoja Local Government, talks about her predicament.
several others in the camp. Reluctantly, Margaret Ekeh, 65, an Isoko indigene
from Delta State who has lived all her life in the riverine community of
Natako, Lokoja Local Government, talks about her predicament.
The old woman looked vacantly into
the air as she laments the loss of her prized items – her fishing nets – to the
floods, which arose from unusually heavy rains and the release of water from
the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, and the Shiroro, Jebba and Kainji Dam in Nigeria.
the air as she laments the loss of her prized items – her fishing nets – to the
floods, which arose from unusually heavy rains and the release of water from
the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, and the Shiroro, Jebba and Kainji Dam in Nigeria.
“My children and I – three of them –
are all here,” she states. “We do fishing; that is our work. We sleep on rice
shacks and on the bare floor. I sleep on that rice shack there; others who
don’t have anything simply spread their clothes and sleep on it. That is how we
sleep.
are all here,” she states. “We do fishing; that is our work. We sleep on rice
shacks and on the bare floor. I sleep on that rice shack there; others who
don’t have anything simply spread their clothes and sleep on it. That is how we
sleep.
“We need mattresses and blankets in
the rooms to reduce the suffering in this place. We want the government to give
us money and used clothes to help us while we are here. We’ve nothing left for
us. We cannot go to the river to fish again because the water has taken away all
our nets. If government gives us money and provides nets for us, we will go and
get fish from the river.”
the rooms to reduce the suffering in this place. We want the government to give
us money and used clothes to help us while we are here. We’ve nothing left for
us. We cannot go to the river to fish again because the water has taken away all
our nets. If government gives us money and provides nets for us, we will go and
get fish from the river.”
Saturday PUNCH investigations show
that students from humble backgrounds, who got caught in the disaster, have
temporarily suspended their academic activities.
that students from humble backgrounds, who got caught in the disaster, have
temporarily suspended their academic activities.
Among the students held up in the
camp is Ismail Abdul, 28, who is studying business administration in the Kogi
State Polytechnic, Lokoja and Philomena James, 14, from Onumaye village.
camp is Ismail Abdul, 28, who is studying business administration in the Kogi
State Polytechnic, Lokoja and Philomena James, 14, from Onumaye village.
Idirs, Ekeh, Abdul, James and the
others in the relief camp constitute one large family of people who have lost
their happiness, joy, comfort and even their source of livelihood to the raging
waters of the River Niger.
others in the relief camp constitute one large family of people who have lost
their happiness, joy, comfort and even their source of livelihood to the raging
waters of the River Niger.
Virtually all of them who fought off
melancholy to field questions from this reporter. They all had one tale or the
other to share. Their demands come in their torrents like the unyielding rains
that increase the water level that has replaced their joy with misery and
agony. Theirs is one long unending story of lamentations.
melancholy to field questions from this reporter. They all had one tale or the
other to share. Their demands come in their torrents like the unyielding rains
that increase the water level that has replaced their joy with misery and
agony. Theirs is one long unending story of lamentations.
Their discomfort, the poor sanitary
conditions at the camp, all combine to threaten the humanitarian efforts being
given by the operatives of the National Emergency Management Agency, its state
counterpart and the men of the International Red Cross.
conditions at the camp, all combine to threaten the humanitarian efforts being
given by the operatives of the National Emergency Management Agency, its state
counterpart and the men of the International Red Cross.
The combined team of NEMA, SEMA, the
Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were seen
putting up their best to ensure the maintenance of law and order in the camp.
Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were seen
putting up their best to ensure the maintenance of law and order in the camp.
Investigation showed that destitution
was fast giving way to desperation and loss of temperament as the victims
separated themselves along ethnic lines to spoil for a confrontation at the
slightest provocation. Our correspondent saw the police team mediating in a
conflict involving some women.
was fast giving way to desperation and loss of temperament as the victims
separated themselves along ethnic lines to spoil for a confrontation at the
slightest provocation. Our correspondent saw the police team mediating in a
conflict involving some women.
The Head of the Red Cross Team, Mr.
Idris Angulu, says that those in charge of the camp had observed that the
people are sharply divided along ethnic conflicts.
Idris Angulu, says that those in charge of the camp had observed that the
people are sharply divided along ethnic conflicts.
“You know that it is really difficult
to keep them here without issues,” says Angulu. “They are not from the same
ethnic group; they are from different places such as Kotonkarufi, Bashan,
Ogunma, Agatu, Isoko, Ebira, and others.
to keep them here without issues,” says Angulu. “They are not from the same
ethnic group; they are from different places such as Kotonkarufi, Bashan,
Ogunma, Agatu, Isoko, Ebira, and others.
“And you know before this unfortunate
disaster happened, they used to have ethnic disputes among themselves and
because of that they don’t sleep in the same room or eat in the same place.
disaster happened, they used to have ethnic disputes among themselves and
because of that they don’t sleep in the same room or eat in the same place.
“So, we have to separate them. For
instance, Gande people have issues with Otenerodo; Isoko have issues with
Ibira, Agatu and Ibira too and others.”
instance, Gande people have issues with Otenerodo; Isoko have issues with
Ibira, Agatu and Ibira too and others.”
Although the camp is yearning for
urgent attention from the government and public-spirited individuals, it was
learnt that security maintenance is adequate. The Search and Rescue Officer of
NEMA in charge of the camp, Mr. Timothy Tile, said that a combined team of the
police, the NSCDC and the local vigilante in Lokoja was providing security
cover for the embattled people.
urgent attention from the government and public-spirited individuals, it was
learnt that security maintenance is adequate. The Search and Rescue Officer of
NEMA in charge of the camp, Mr. Timothy Tile, said that a combined team of the
police, the NSCDC and the local vigilante in Lokoja was providing security
cover for the embattled people.
He said that while NEMA and the Kogi
State Government donated some items to the camp which were being distributed to
the people. He stated that the DG of NEMA had directed distribution of more
items for Friday.
State Government donated some items to the camp which were being distributed to
the people. He stated that the DG of NEMA had directed distribution of more
items for Friday.
Without doubt, the historical town of
Lokoja is a besieged city. A sizeable percentage of buildings in the town,
which rightly prides itself as the confluence city, is submerged by the very
confluence which has yielded its vast natural resources to the sustenance of
the Kogi State capital for years. The wait for normalcy and restoration
promises to be very long with the bold indications of rising water level. This
is as the roads of Lokoja are playing host to canoes and speedboats with scores
of rooftops almost by the destructive flood.
Lokoja is a besieged city. A sizeable percentage of buildings in the town,
which rightly prides itself as the confluence city, is submerged by the very
confluence which has yielded its vast natural resources to the sustenance of
the Kogi State capital for years. The wait for normalcy and restoration
promises to be very long with the bold indications of rising water level. This
is as the roads of Lokoja are playing host to canoes and speedboats with scores
of rooftops almost by the destructive flood.
The raging flood has also brought to
its knees the highest tourism centre and the most beautiful hotel in Lokoja,
the Confluence Beach Hotel. It was learnt that the hotel was the choice hotel
to the top businessmen, rich travellers, government officers within and outside
Kogi.
its knees the highest tourism centre and the most beautiful hotel in Lokoja,
the Confluence Beach Hotel. It was learnt that the hotel was the choice hotel
to the top businessmen, rich travellers, government officers within and outside
Kogi.
The multibillion naira hotel is
strategically located to give a clear view of the meeting point between the
River Niger and the River Benue. Even though the Federal Government is making a
sustained effort to open up an alternative route around the flooded sections of
the Abuja-Lokoja Road, the submerged city would have to wait on the compassion
of River Niger and maybe Benue, to recover from the current siege.
strategically located to give a clear view of the meeting point between the
River Niger and the River Benue. Even though the Federal Government is making a
sustained effort to open up an alternative route around the flooded sections of
the Abuja-Lokoja Road, the submerged city would have to wait on the compassion
of River Niger and maybe Benue, to recover from the current siege.
