Father of seven swept away by flood in Edo
Father of Seven Dies in Flood Incident in Edo State
Iguovbiobo, Edo State – A 30-year-old man, Augustine Ojo, reportedly lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters in the Iguovbiobo community, located in Uhunmwode Local Government Area.
Witnesses say Ojo was riding his motorcycle home when he attempted to cross a makeshift wooden bridge over a deep gully. The bridge collapsed due to floodwaters eroding the supporting soil, propelling both Ojo and his motorcycle into the torrent.
Local residents, who tried to rescue Ojo, stated he was swept away by the rapidly rising waters. After several hours of searching, his body was recovered approximately six hours later by community members, including local youths.
Augustine Evbuomwan, youth leader of the community, attributed the incident to alleged stormwater diversion by a construction company engaged in the rehabilitation of the Benin-Auchi Road for the Federal Ministry of Works. He claimed that newly constructed drainage channels along the highway direct large volumes of floodwater into the community, leading to significant erosion that has divided the settlement.
“The erosion poses a serious risk to residents, forcing schoolchildren and adults to navigate makeshift wooden bridges to reach their homes, schools, and farms,” Evbuomwan said. He expressed concern that despite multiple requests for the construction company to address the drainage issues, residents faced intimidation when voicing their concerns.
Evbuomwan urged the Edo State Government and relevant authorities to intervene urgently to prevent further tragedies.
Jerry Idahosa, Executive Secretary of the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EDOSEMA), stated that the incident had not yet been officially reported to the agency.
