At least eight people, including a mother and her four children, have lost their lives after a devastating flood hit Kpoghirikpo, an ancient kingdom in the Itim community of Afikpo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
The tragedy followed days of heavy rainfall, which unleashed torrents of water that swept through farmlands and homes.
Over 800 farmlands were destroyed, and about 3,000 households were left homeless, creating a major displacement crisis.
Many residents now face the painful reality of losing both their livelihoods and shelter in one night.
Eyewitnesses said the disaster struck while farmers were in their fields trying to save their crops.
A community-led search and rescue team managed to save four children, but four bodies have already been recovered and buried. The search continues for others who are still missing.
The destruction has left the local economy in jeopardy, with entire farms washed away and thousands of families in urgent need of help.
Community leaders are appealing to the federal and state governments for immediate relief materials and long-term support to rebuild.
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Human Capital Development, Ann Aligwe, confirmed that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has deployed an emergency response team to the area.
She assured that relief materials have been arranged to cushion the hardship faced by survivors.
Aligwe also urged residents in flood-prone areas to move to safer government-designated shelters as the rainy season continues, stressing the need for early evacuation to prevent further loss of lives.
For the people of Kpoghirikpo, the flood is more than just a natural disaster, it is a heartbreaking blow to their way of life, with farmland, homes, and loved ones all claimed by the raging waters.
