Widow, Others Escape As Flood Submerges Houses In Akwa Ibom

A 70-year-old widow, identified as Mary Monday Peter, was among those who escaped death by the whiskers, when a raging flood swept through their community, Ikot Usoekong, in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

The three-days downpour submerged buildings in parts of Uyo, the state capital, including the Oron Road axis of Mbiabong, Shelter Afrique Estates extension, two Lanes, Aka Itiam, Tabernacle road and Itam, in the adjoining Itu LGA, forcing the stranded residents to cry out to Governor Umo Eno, for help.

Madam Peter, on Sunday night was awoken to the flood water taking over her compound, but was lucky to escape from the building before being submerged and crashed, with no time to salvage personal belongings.

“The incident occurred at the very late hours of the night on Sunday, crashing the building located after the Deeper Life Camp Ground in Ikot Uso Ekong village to the ground.

It also destroyed property including household items worth millions of Naira around the Ikot Usoekong neighborhood,” another victim, Essen Bassey, lamented.

Madam Peter, who has lived alone since the death of her husband 10 years ago, said she narrowly escaped being submerged under the debris of her building through the help of God.

The widow, who lamented that now she has no shelter, described her survival as an act of God, saying she had lost the only home she depended on.

Fighting back tears, she made a passionate appeal to the state government, corporate organisations, philanthropists and other public-spirited individuals to come to her aid.

“I have no one to help me. Since my husband died 10 years ago, I have been living alone. My children are still struggling to stand on their feet. Now, the only house I had has collapsed. I am appealing to Governor, and other kind-hearted Nigerians to please come to my rescue,” she pleaded.

Residents of the community described the incident as heartbreaking and called for urgent humanitarian intervention to provide temporary shelter and support for the elderly widow.

They appealed to the state government, humanitarian organisations, religious bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to assist Madam Peter in rebuilding her home and restoring hope to her life.

However, the State government has put several intervention measures in place as well as emergency response team from the Ministries of Works, Environment, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) coordinated by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to desilt gutters, clear clogged drainage infrastructure and demolish illegal structures on the right of way of waters.