An unusual flood has devastated the Shonga community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, claiming one life and submerging 3,000 hectares of rice farmland.
The flood, which affected approximately 5,000 farmers, occurred last Saturday despite the absence of rainfall.
The Kwara Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, a government agency, confirmed the extent of the disaster following an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas.
According to The PUNCH, the agency’s communication officer, Taiwo Okanlawon, described the flood as a major setback for the farming community.
During a visit by a state government delegation, the Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahya, expressed shock at the incident and called for an urgent investigation into its cause.
“This flood happened at a time when there has been no rainfall, which is highly unusual,” he said. “From here up to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Mali, there has been no rain. The Sahel is dry. So, where did this flood come from?”
He further stated that inquiries were made at Kainji Dam, which denied being the source of the flood. However, he noted that Jebba Dam did not refute involvement, instead stating that it would soon be closed.
“We have worked for years to bring farmers to this place, and now this has happened. We must ensure it doesn’t happen again to prevent a food crisis,” the Emir added.
Representing the Emir, the Nakodi of Shonga, Alhaji Sulaiman Baiwa Yahya, commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his swift response and the ACReSAL team for assessing the situation.
“The flood has left thousands of farmers in distress, many of whom took loans to invest in their rice farms,” he said. “The community has suffered a great loss, not only in farmland but also in livelihoods.”
According to the ACReSAL report, the single fatality recorded was due to shock from the disaster. The flood also displaced several households, deepening concerns over the impact on food security in the region.
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The state government has yet to release an official statement on measures to support the affected farmers and prevent future occurrences.
