Torrential rainfall has displaced thousands of people while properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The rain which started at about 12 a.m on Saturday and fell for over 16 hours, caused massive flooding in some part of Judges Quarters, BIPC Estate and its extension, Apaar Batur Village on Naka Road, Ishaya Bakut road among other areas.
Our correspondent also reports that the flood caused huge damages to houses and livestock.
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom went round the affected areas in Makurdi to assess the level of damage caused by the flood, said until River Benue is dredged, flood control efforts in Makurdi and its environs will continue to yield little results.
READ ALSO: Ortom Inspects Flooded Communities, Call For Dredging Of River Benue
The Governor, while fielding questions from journalists shortly after the inspection called on members of the National Assembly from the state to take the issue of dredging of River Benue seriously to ensure that it is captured in the 2021 budget and also implemented.
He stated that though the drainage channel constructed by the Federal Government had mitigated the effect of the flooding to a large extent, more needed to be done in terms of opening more drainages to help salvage the situation.
He also charged the people of the state to always get approval from relevant authorities before erecting structures for residential or commercial purposes, stressing that government would henceforth demolish any building on water channels without compensation.
Gov. Ortom said his administration will, through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) consider the provision of relief materials as well as temporary 1shelter to those affected by the flood.
