Flood is coming again, SEMA warns Benue residents

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) has warned residents of the state over an impending flood.

The Executive Secretary of SEMA, James Iorpuu, handed down the warning at the weekend during an event commemorating the 2023 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Mr Iorpuu also called for more attention and concern to the plight of displaced persons in the state as he stressed that some advancements had been made by the government of the state to reduce the impact of disasters and loss of lives and livelihoods.

He disclosed that the state government currently partnered Elim Christian Vocational Training Centre (CVTC) to create awareness and sensitise the people on the brutal inequality of disaster, lamenting that while the state tried to handle the killing of Benue residents, it was also battling with an impending flood.

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He further said, “The disaster of flooding is already with us. While we were trying to escape from herders’ attacks on our people, flood is coming again. This is a yearly occurrence, but the one that is coming now is going to be more devastating on our people.

“So, as we mark this day, let us remember we have people at the IDP camps.”

Similarly, the Executive Director of Elim Christian Vocational Training Centre (CVTC), Oju, Benue State, Emmanuel Egbodo, urged the government and partners to invest and equip vulnerable communities, households and groups with the necessary resources and knowledge to prepare for and enable them recover from disasters.

While noting that the theme for this year’s commemoration of the day was: “Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future”, he shed light on the pressing issues of disaster risk reduction and the significance of building a resilient future.

Egbodo, who is also the Programme Manager for the Enabling Resilience to Climate Change Related Risks (ER2CC) project in Benue State, a project funded by the Christian Blinden Mission (CBM), International and the European Union (EU), added that the theme was in line with Elim’s vision which centered on supporting and building capacity of, “Persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to enjoy full participation in a safe and an inclusive society.”