Nwanjoku Calls for Urgent Intervention as Flood Ravages Oduma, Mpu, Okpanku and Ndeabo Communities
By The Voice of the Masses | September 23, 2026
Residents of several communities in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State have been thrown into distress following heavy rainfall and flooding that reportedly destroyed houses, farmlands and crops, with a child reportedly drowning in Obiagu Okomigbo, Mpu.
The affected areas include parts of Mpu, Okpanku, Oduma and Ndeabo, where residents are appealing for urgent government intervention as the situation continues to develop.
In Mpu, residents reported significant flooding in Ukey village, with farm produce including yam, cassava, vegetables and rice reportedly affected. Several families are also said to have been displaced from their homes.
A resident who spoke on the situation appealed to the relevant authorities to urgently come to the aid of affected communities.
> “We woke up to a flood situation in Ukey village, Mpu Town, this morning, today being 23rd September 2026. Our farms are worse off and the situation is still developing. We do not know what will happen in the next couple of hours. I call on the authorities to come to our aid.”
Nwanjoku Alerts Federal Representatives and SEMA
The Executive Chairman of Aninri LGA, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, has called the attention of the federal representatives from the area and the relevant emergency-management authorities to the unfolding situation.
In a statement shared on the Voice of Aninri WhatsApp platform, Nwanjoku described the development as “practically unacceptable” and expressed concern over the losses suffered by residents.
He disclosed that he had spoken with Senator Osita Ngwu and Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, providing them with pictorial information on the flooding in Ihube and Ihuezeoke villages in Okpanku.
According to the council chairman, Senator Ngwu is already engaging the Federal Ministry of Water Resources over the emergency, while discussions have also been held with Hon. Onwuegbu concerning the possible role of the Ivo Dam reservoir.
Nwanjoku said a joint inspection of the affected areas is expected to be undertaken to assess the extent of the damage and examine possible long-term solutions.
He also noted that the flooding has reportedly occurred repeatedly in parts of Okpanku, making the need for a lasting solution increasingly urgent.
Ivo Dam Remains a Long-Standing Flooding Concern
The concerns surrounding the Ivo Dam are not new.
Federal records identify the Ivo River Dam as a Federal Ministry of Water Resources project located in Aninri LGA, with a planned reservoir capacity of about 20 million cubic metres.
A 2024 report by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation stated that the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Funds visited Mpu, Okpanku, Oduma and Nenwe in Aninri during an assessment of flood-affected communities.
More significantly, proceedings of the House of Representatives in October 2024 recorded concerns that the Ivo Dam's incomplete spillway and reservoir overflow were contributing to flooding in communities around Aninri and neighbouring areas. The House called for emergency relief and urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to prioritize the completion of the project.
Earlier reporting by ICIR also documented longstanding concerns about the abandoned/unfinished Ivo Dam and its effect on communities around Mpu and Okpanku during periods of heavy rainfall.
Urgent Action Needed
The immediate priority, however, is the safety and welfare of residents affected by the latest flooding.
With reports of homes and farmlands being inundated and a reported loss of life, affected communities need urgent assessment, rescue and relief efforts, while the authorities must determine the precise causes and extent of the flooding.
The long-term challenge is equally important: authorities at the federal, state and local levels need to establish what measures are required to prevent repeated flooding and address outstanding issues surrounding the Ivo Dam and its associated infrastructure.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency had also issued a September 2026 advisory warning of high riverine flood risk across several states between September 19 and 25, urging people in vulnerable communities to move to safer and higher ground.
For the people of Mpu, Okpanku, Oduma, Ndeabo and other affected parts of Aninri, the appeal is clear: urgent intervention is needed now, alongside a permanent solution to the recurring flooding menace.
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