Delta, Edo floods:Traditional ruler drowns as flood traps 7,000 in Delta community

As flood continues to ravage communities across the country, a traditional ruler in Ndokwa area of Delta State has reportedly drowned during evacuation from his domain. His identity is still being withheld on traditional grounds.

The mornach was allegedly drowned when the boat he was being evacuated in capsized. His death brings to three persons that had drowned in the state since the flood started on September 17.

The tragic news came just as about 7,000 persons were yesterday discovered to have been trapped by the devastating flood in Ewulu community, Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state. The victims are calling for government’s intervention in evacuating them to upland. Access road to the community had been completely submerged. However, the people resorted to using locally made canoe to evacuate whatever they could salvage of their property to the upland.

Also, four persons had been feared killed in Ekperi rehabilitation camp at Ekperi Grammar School, Ughepe Azukhalu, in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State.

However, only the death of a middle-aged man, simply identified as Alhaji Bila, who had been buried according to Islamic rites, was confirmed on Wednesday.

Alhaji Bila reportedly slumped and died in the camp.

The camp was among those set up to cater for flood disaster victims, in the wake of the sack of some communities by flood, as a result of the overflow of the River Niger.

There were no further details regarding the identities of the other three persons or the causes of their death.