The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned people living in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State to get ready to leave their homes if the floods continue to rise.
NEMA worked with the Federal Fire Service in Owerri to check the flooding situation in the area after residents complained about rising water levels.
On Tuesday, NEMA posted on its official X account that the floodwaters are slowly reaching people’s homes and farms.
A team led by Mr. Nweze Innocent, a senior rescue officer, visited the affected parts of the Abacheke community.
The team, joined by Mr. Nwabuchi Eminent from the traditional ruler’s office, saw that floodwaters are moving into houses. Some parts of the community are already underwater.
NEMA reported that local farmers have started harvesting crops early—even those not fully grown—because they fear the floods will destroy their farms.
In Ogboru village, many places are already flooded. This includes important buildings like the Abacheke Primary Health Centre, churches such as The Apostolic Church, Salzan Industries, and the Community Primary School, which has been closed in case the flooding gets worse.
A similar situation is happening in Udekpunata village, where floodwaters are affecting both farms and homes.
Mr. Nweze told residents of 28 villages, including Ogboru, Edeakamaya, Olutu, Ipo, Eze Abacheke, Deyezegbe, Ogbede, and Okishipai, to get ready to move to safer places on higher ground.
He warned that with the current water levels and weather predictions, there could be even worse flooding in the coming weeks. He urged communities to stay alert.
Mr. Nwabuchi remembered the damage from the 2022 floods, when many communities were completely flooded, and a camp for displaced people had to be set up in Ogboru village.
He said local leaders have been working hard to educate people—not to build on waterways, to keep the environment clean, and to stay alert and ready to leave if the flooding gets worse.
