A devastating incident occurred in the Uwen-Oboh community of Ekpoma, the administrative centre of Esan West Local Government Area, Edo State, on Tuesday evening when a man was swept away by floodwaters caused by severe erosion along Uhiele Opoji Road.
The victim, identified as Mr. Frank Omoruyi, a cocoa dealer from Igueben, was riding a motorbike when he was overwhelmed by the powerful current following heavy rainfall.
The tragedy unfolded as Mr. Omoruyi attempted to navigate a flooded section of the road connecting Ekpoma to Igueben.
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Eyewitnesses reported desperate efforts to rescue him, but the intensity of the flood proved too strong.
Joshua, a local resident who witnessed the incident, recounted, “We were all trying to find a way through the erosion, but out of nowhere, the flood swept Mr. Omoruyi off balance, and he disappeared.
We’ve not seen him since.”
As of Wednesday, search efforts were underway, with community members scouring a nearby borrow pit where the floodwaters are believed to have carried the victim. The search continues, but the hope of finding Mr. Omoruyi alive is fading.
Residents of Uwen-Oboh have issued urgent appeals to the Edo State government and relevant authorities to address the recurring erosion problem, which they attribute to water overflow from the ongoing construction of the Benin-Auchi Expressway.
The community claims that the construction has channelled excessive water into their area, exacerbating flooding and erosion with every rainfall.
Despite repeated complaints from communities around Ekpoma, little action has been taken to mitigate the issue.
Local residents are now calling for immediate intervention to halt the erosion menace that threatens lives and property.
They urge the authorities to implement effective drainage systems and address the environmental impact of the road construction to prevent further tragedies.
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