Flood Submerges 25 Edo Communities After Lagdo Dam Water Release

At least 25 communities in Edo State, located along the banks of the River Niger, have been submerged by floodwaters following the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

Ojimah Christopher, the Desk Officer for Relief Materials and Distribution in Esan South East, confirmed the development on Monday.

Christopher said the affected areas include Etsako East, Etsako Central, and Esan South East Local Government Areas.

“Twenty-five communities have been submerged,” he said and noted that the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in the area is already at full capacity.

Ojimah, who also serves as the Secretary of the Emergency Committee for the local government, described the situation as dire.

He added that communities like Ifeku were completely submerged, with properties and livestock swept away by the rising waters.

“Our yam, cassava, and groundnut fields are gone,” John Odaku, a resident told Daily Trust, adding that “The flood came so fast that we couldn’t save anything. Even crops we had already harvested were carried away.”

He said residents could not take their belongings due to the rising level of the flood which, according to him, may surpass that of previous years.