The Federal Ministry of Environment’s National Flood Early Warning Centre (FEW) has issued a flood alert for 32 locations across 11 states between September 14 and 18.
In a circular issued on Sunday by Usman Bokani, director of erosion, flood and coastal zone management, the centre said rising water levels in the River Gongola, River Benue and River Niger pose additional risks.
The affected areas include Ganye and Natubi in Adamawa; Abinsi, Agyo, Gogo, Ito, Makurdi, Udoma and Ukpiam in Benue; Agima, Rukubi and Odogbo in Nasarawa; Beli, Serti and Donga in Taraba; Umugboma, Umukwata, Abraka, Aboh and Okpo-Krika in Delta; and Rijau in Niger.
Others are Ribah in Kebbi; Gwarzo and Karaye in Kano; Jibia in Katsina; Makira in Sokoto; as well as Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, Maradun, Gusau, Anka and Bungudu in Zamfara.
The ministry urged communities along the overflow including Gongola up to Numan, and from Benue and Niger up to Lokoja to evacuate immediately.
“Also, due to a rise in the water level of River Gongola, River Benue, and River Niger, the communities on the flood plains of River Gongola up to Numan, and also communities on the flood plains of River Benue and River Niger up to Lokoja are advised to evacuate immediately,” the alert reads.
“Relevant stakeholders should kindly take note.”
The warning comes days after torrential rainfall in Zaria in Kaduna state, displaced more than 470 children and destroyed at least 270 homes.
On September 4, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said floods had killed 231 people this year, injured 607, while 114 remain missing.
In 2024, more than 5.2 million people were affected by floods across 35 states and 401 LGAs, with over 1.2 million displaced, 1,237 killed and 16,469 injured.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
