We’re dying, flood victims cry in Kogi

Posted by admin Headlines, Kogi, State News Friday, October 12th, 2012

As sharp practices rock relief camps

From EMMANUEL ADEYEMI, Lokoja

Government officials and greedy individuals may have taken advantage of the flood disaster on Kogi State to enrich themselves, Daily Sun gathered. A discreet survey carried out on the flood disaster in the state revealed that figures on those affected were grossly amplified while bogus sums of money were being mentioned as cost resulting from the disaster. For example, the state government put the number of those affected as two million and the monetary value of property destroyed at over N2billion. This has been discovered to be exaggerated.

Also it was observed that there were more than 30 fake refugee camps created across the state ostensibly to divert funds and materials meant for the refugees to private pockets It was also gathered that most of the refugees were still living in pitiable condition with most of them sleeping on empty stomach.

The state government, it is gathered, has received about N1billion so far as donations with the Federal Government donating N500 million, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, N430 million and several other donations from corporate bodies and kind-hearted individuals, yet all these seemed not to have reflected in the standard of the living of the refugees.

It was also gathered that since the Federal Government announced the release of N500 million as succour to cushion of the effect the flood disaster, many towns and villages especially in Igala land have suddenly turned out to be flooded areas. Some of the victims narrated their ordeals: ZAINAB IBRAHIM 65 yrs I am a widow with 10 children, I laboured to build a ten room bungallow at Hausa street, Adankolo but all has been washed away by flood.

Our condition in the camp is worst, there is not enough to eat. We are only being fed with three satchets on indomie for a family of 10.

JOHNSON ENEJO CIVIL SERVANT 44 yrs We are only being starving here, we only hear of millions being donated to goverment but none comes to us except the one personally given out to us. We discovered that some government offials especially SEMA officials and some other political office holders are not honest the exception of NEMA officials and Red cross who are very diligent and helpful.

UMORU NDAKWO 25yrs LANDLORD My father has a seven-room bungallow and I built a three-bed room beside it which the flood submerged We are being fed with biscuits and indomie with small cup of rice. The toilet facility is disheartenening and there are no drugs to take care of those who are sick RACHEL ADESUPO 35yrs I just gave birth to this baby girl two days ago. It was a good Samaritan who rushed me to hospital and paid part of my hospital bill. I was only given these two cups of beans to feed me and my six children and we do not even know when the next will come. I am from Ekiti State.

FAITH EMMANUEL, WIDOW 28yrs I was a tenant at Kabawa when the food suddenly came at night, we lost all our property to the flood and I had to quickly evacuate my children to the camp. Now they can no longer go to school and we are starving and nowhere to run to.

ESTHER OMACHI 25yrs I gave birth also in the camp on Wednesday night.

There was no medical people to attend to me I had to be rushed to Federal Medical Centre by a visitor. The situation here is not conducive at all, we are still being fed with N30 loaf of bread per family and I have five children plus the new born.

ISAYA ISA CHINOKO, NEMA OFFICER We have been able to effectively render assistance to flood victims in four areas of interventions namely; camp management, needs and on-the-spot assessment, provision of relief materials, and rescuing operations in collaboration with the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority “We mobilize our search and rescue department to rescue over 7000 people trapped in Ibaji Local Government, which is the worst hit and we have distributed over N17 million worth of drugs to victims through the state ministry of health. Inspite of Kogi’s classification as category A, we are happy that no death was recorded in the state because of our proactive measures.

-Sun

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