2022 Flood: Imo Community Alleges Diversion Of Relief Materials

The people of Opuoma community in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State have alleged the diversion of relief materials meant for victims of 2022 flood in the community to another place.

It accused the leaders of a factional group in the community of being behind the diversion of the relief materials, which were brought in by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies.

The acting paramount ruler of the community, Prince Kingsley Ikenyiri, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the recent diversion was not the first as the community has been experiencing similar ugly developments since 2015.

Ikenyiri said, “The recent monumental and fraudulent diversion of relief materials; the largest ever sent to Opuoma autonomous community, and previous diversions of relief materials and non-relief materials among other benefits meant for Opuoma autonomous community that are sent through Ohaji/Egbema local government council, has reached an alarming height.

“It has remained a recurring decimal despite our objections against such unruly practices without any moral justification to do so, as the perpetrators of the diversions among other illegalities in Opuoma, see themselves as being above the law of the land.

“Furthermore, on October 21, 2015, we forwarded a letter of protest to the Chairman of Ohaji/Egbema local government area, against allowing any persons or group, to receive any material or benefit on behalf of Opuoma autonomous community without our consent, which seem to have been ignored without any moral justification.

“Yet, Opuoma autonomous community as at the month of November 2015 till date, has not received her own flood relief materials for the 2015 flood, which ravaged Niger Delta communities with Opuoma community inclusive.

“This is even as other communities affected by the same flood, received their own relief materials via the same Ohaji/Egbema local government headquarters.”