18th August, 2010
Mr. Abdulbakir Isah, the Divisional Police Officer for Okpoko, near Onitsha, on Tuesday confirmed the death of two men and the destruction of property worth millions of naira, following a flood in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the downpour which started at about 6.30 p.m. and stopped at 10 p.m. on Monday, forced vehicles to a standstill for about three hours at Okpoko on the Onitsha-Awka Highway.
Isah who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with NAN said: “We woke up this morning to find their dead bodies.
“We have deposited their bodies at the hospital, while the family of one of them came to identify him.
“It is rather unfortunate, I pray to God to give the families the fortitude to bear the loss,” he added.
Mr. Afam Ozonna, a resident of Okpoko, said it was possible that some dead bodies were still lying in the flood water.
“I will advise that people should not be in a hurry anytime there is a downpour like the one of Monday.
“People should please remain where they are and not venture into any outing while the rain lasts,” he said.
Traffic in Okpoko, a slum neighbourhood was unprecedented during the downpour.