Hoodlums hijack relief materials donated to flood victims in Rivers

Relief materials donated to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) by the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) in Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State have been carted away by suspected hoodlums.

The Guardian gathered that out of 200 bags of rice donated by the association, the flood victims received only three bags.

It was also learnt that out of over 1,000 mattresses given, the flood victims received none as they are still sleeping on the bare floors.

Findings also showed that over five babies, with three adults have contracted cold in the IDP camp.

Meanwhile, barely two weeks after Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, visited the flood victims in the state and promised to bring succour to them, no help or assistance have been received by the people.

Osibanjo during his visit to flooded areas in Rivers, said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is working hard to ensure that “we give as much succour and provision of tents, mattresses, food, mosquito nets and all that are required”.

But the leader of Orashi Assembly in the four coastal local government areas of the state badly affected by the flood, comprising Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Abual Odual, Ahoada West, and Ahaoda East, Mr. Abba Rufus, said it was disheartening that two weeks after the Vice President’s visit, no help has been received from the Federal Government.

He also decried the neglect of the state government to the flood victims. Rufus vowed that despite threats by the security personnel, the victims would remobilize and relocate to the government house, Port Harcourt and possibly, to Aso Rock in Abuja, to press home their demands.

The chairman of the IDP camp in Akinima, Ahoada West, Rubin Morris, confirmed that 20 bags of rice got missed following the activities of hoodlums who trailed the driver carrying the items, overpowered him and diverted the items.

He said: “The crowd that followed the driver was overwhelming, they beat him up and took the rice away.”