Bashir Opaluwa Idris
A rainstorm has wrecked havoc in Mopa and Amuro districts both in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State.
On the eleventh of April 2025, the communities of Odole, Ileteju One, Ileteju Two, Aiyeteju, Agbajogun, Effo Amuro, Ayede and Takete spanning across Mopa and Amuro Districts of Mopamuro Local Government Area were struck by a ruinous rainstorm.
Confirming the incident in a motion of urgent public importance before the Kogi State House of Assembly on Tuesday, the member representing Mopamuro State Constituency, Jacob Sam Olawumi noted that the calamity, in the form of heavy rainfall accompanied by violent storm, destroyed valuable properties and displaced families from their homes.
“The House should note that the storm left in its wake unimaginable destruction: rooftops were ripped from residential and public buildings; power lines were torn down, plunging the affected communities into darkness; tree were violently uprooted; farmlands were submerged and stripped bare by torrents of floodwaters; and, most heartbreakingly, numerous families were displaced and rendered homeless.
Olawumi noted that the incident has not only disrupted normal life but has also exposed the affected residents to serious humanitarian challenges.
He appealed to relevant government agencies for relief assistance to victims of the disaster who are now without shelter, electricity, food and access to basic amenities.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Okehi State Constituency, Otokiti Alhassan Zachariah appealed to the Federal and State Government to act swiftly to bring relief to the suffering citizens.
On his part, member representing Ogori-Magongo State Constituency, Bode Ogunmola who said the disaster is a natural one and not man made appealed to the House to mandate the relevant agencies to send relief materials to the communities affected.
The Deputy Speaker and member representing Ibaji State Constituency, Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola Egwaba who said there was a similar disasater in some communities in her constituency, urged relevant government agencies to come to the aide of the affected communities.
The Speaker, Aliyu Umar Yusuf in his submission, mandated the House Standing Committee on Environment to visit all the affected communities for an on-the-spot assessment and report back with its observations and recommendations for further legislative or executive action deemed necessary.
