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Torrential rainfall, flooding and a windstorm have destroyed farmland and shops in Abakaliki and the Akpoha community in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Saturday night.
The over four-hour downpour caused severe flooding along the Abakaliki–Afikpo Expressway, submerging farmlands and destroying crops worth millions of naira.
Farmers affected by the disaster told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Sunday that the flood washed away yams, cassava, maize, rice, melons and other crops from their farmlands.
Cletus Idam said the incident wiped out his entire farming investment for the season.
“We invested huge sums of money in our farms, but everything has been washed away; we may have to replant if the flood recedes,” he said.
He called on the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assess the damage and provide support to affected communities.
Idam noted that Afikpo, Amasiri, Akpoha and nearby communities recorded widespread destruction following the heavy rainfall.
Another farmer, Sunday Ewa, urged the state government to provide relief materials and agricultural inputs to help farmers recover.
He also called for improved seedlings, chemicals and other farm inputs to support replanting efforts.
Ewa said the communities remain highly vulnerable to flooding due to their terrain.
A community leader in Afikpo, Chief Joseph Irem, described the destruction as a major threat to food security and agricultural production.
He said community leaders would report the incident to relevant authorities and seek urgent intervention.
In Abakaliki, a strong windstorm also damaged commercial buildings, blowing off shop roofs and destroying goods.
At Kpiri-Kpiri Market, trader Chioma Ifeanyi said many traders suffered heavy losses, especially those dealing in electrical appliances.
“The rainstorm caused extensive damage, and many shop owners had their goods damaged by rainwater,” she said.
At Ebebe Junction Evening Market in Amike-Aba community, traders also recounted losses after makeshift sheds were destroyed.
Patricia Onwe, Iruka Ede and Pauline Iteshi said the windstorm ripped off the roofs of their shops, destroying goods worth hundreds of thousands of naira.
They appealed to the government and relevant agencies for urgent assistance, saying their livelihoods depend on daily trading.
