Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, found itself in the grip of a relentless downpour on Monday, resulting in extensive flooding that paralyzed normal life for its residents. The rain, which commenced as a light drizzle around 10 pm on Sunday, escalated in ferocity around 4 am on Monday, persisting until approximately 10 am.
The deluge had dire consequences, with flooding occurring in various areas, including Wurukum, Achusa, and segments of Gboko Road. Particularly distressing was the plight of students from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, who found themselves stranded during the early hours of Monday, unable to access the university due to the submerged roads.
Mimidoo Gundu, a prominent student union leader at FUAM, expressed her dismay over the situation and urgently appealed for intervention. She articulated, “This morning, the road connecting SRS Junction to Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, became impassable, submerged around Antsa and Ichwa areas. This obstruction has posed a significant challenge for both staff and students attempting to reach the campus, and it’s disheartening. I implore the federal and state governments, along with the school administration, to address this issue promptly, before it deteriorates and damages the road irreparably.”
Additionally, a resident of Achusa, who identified himself as Tony, shared his distressing account of the floodwaters inundating his house and submerging his belongings. He added, “We even heard rumors of an impending flood due to the release of water from Ladgo Dam in Cameroon. If we are already grappling with this level of flooding now, one can only imagine the devastation when the primary flood arrives.”