Tombia Community Flooded As River Nun Overflows Bank

The River Nun, a tributary of the River Niger, has overflown, causing massive flooding in Tombia community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Residents of the community in Ekpetiama Kingdom were shocked to see their homes and vast farmlands devastated by the floods.

Some of the residents in the area who narrated their ordeal to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent said some houses, as well as farmlands and fishing gear, have been destroyed by the disaster.

Bayelsa State was listed by the Nigerian Meteorological Services Agency as one of the most flood-prone states in its 2017 rain forecast.

President of the Ekpetiama Youth Association, Peter Otobotekere, said the community has been experiencing perennial flood challenges since the 1950s. He appealed to the government to come to their aid.

Community members said only shoreline protection infrastructure would protect the area from perennial flooding.

When contacted, Bayelsa State Commissioner of Environment Williams Alamene said that he was not aware of any flooding incident.

Meanwhile, there have been indications of rising water levels across the many river banks throughout Bayelsa State in recent weeks.

Alagoa Morris, a renowned environmentalist, has urged the state government to act on the available disaster warnings and improve its flood preparedness to mitigate the effects of any likely flooding incidents.

Bayelsa State was amongst the worst hit states in the 2012 flood disaster which resulted to the setting up a flood committee.