SURPRISE: Edo State Speaker’s Mother Trapped By Flood In Her home!

Exactly what the flood victims of Edo State have been experiencing over the years. Regina Igbe, the mother of the recently sworn-in Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Uyi Igbe, became the latest victim of the perennial flooding problem facing Benin City, the Edo State capital as she got trapped in her home yesterday following an early morning torrential rainfall in the ancient city.

Residents of most areas of Benin metropolis experienced the wrath of the early morning downpour, which began around 2am and lasted for several hours, as flood waters washed away property worth millions of naira, submerging areas and emptying dirt from sewages and drainages unto streets.

Mrs Igbe said some children living with her were also trapped and cannot go to school because of the situation. She lamented the incessant problem of flooding in the area, which she said has persisted in the last four seasons, even as she had made several representations to relevant authorities in the state.

Other areas

Also affected by the ravaging flood was the office complex of Punch newspapers, located along Arousa Street. Damages were done to the building as it was flooded up to the window level. Other occupants of the building were seen outside standing by some of the properties salvaged from the mess, while younger ones scooped out water from homes into the street.

Other areas worse hit by the flood include: Ekenwa Road, Godwin Omonuwa Street, Ogba/Oko and Boundry Roads, all in the GRA. Also, residents of Upper Sakponba Road, Adolo Junction, in Ugbowo, Uwelu and Five Junction had their houses drenched in water.

The Edo State government had, in the month of February last year, presented a bill of N6 billion to Hightech Engineering Company as part payment of the contract for the control of floodwaters in Benin City.

The state governor, Adams Oshiomhole who presented the cheque, said that when completed, the project will put an end to the problem of flooding in Benin from the construction of artificial moat and underground channels across Edo South.

Freed man

Meanwhile, Felix Okungbowa, the father-in-law to Edo State deputy governor, Pius Odubu who was kidnapped on Tuesday by unknown gunmen has been freed.

Family sources said the kidnappers abandoned their victim following the intervention of the officers of the State Security Services (SSS).

Mr Okungbowa, who was escorted to Government House to the warm embrace of Mr Odubu by officers of the SSS, was reportedly abandoned by his abductors in a forest around Ekae, kilometre 18, along Benin-Sapele Road.

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