The Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State, Hon. Raymond Zege Aondoakura, has appealed to the state government, emergency management authorities and humanitarian organisations to provide urgent assistance to communities reportedly affected by flooding in the area.

In a press statement dated Friday, October 9, 2026, the chairman expressed concern over the reported impact of flooding on Etulo communities and other parts of Buruku, including damage to homes, farmlands and the displacement of households.

According to the statement issued by Comr. Simeon Terlumun Aer, Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman, the flooding has affected the livelihoods of farming households, with cassava and rice farms reportedly submerged by floodwaters.

The statement identified Adagbu, Awe-Agbou, Okwese-Otsafu, Oglube, Agbatala and Oglazi among the communities severely affected by the incident.

It further stated that some residents were forced to leave their homes after floodwaters reportedly surged during the night, leaving several households unable to salvage their belongings.

However, the statement did not provide figures for the number of people displaced, households affected or the extent of farmland damaged.

Council Calls for Emergency Intervention

Zege appealed to the Benue State Government, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) and other relevant humanitarian organisations to intervene and provide assistance to affected residents.

He particularly called on the Executive Secretary of BSEMA to dispatch an assessment team to the affected communities to evaluate the situation and facilitate the provision of relief materials.

According to the statement, the immediate needs include emergency shelter, food, clean drinking water, medical assistance and other essential supplies for households whose homes and livelihoods have reportedly been affected.

The chairman also expressed concern about the impact of the flooding on farming communities, where damage to cassava and rice farms could affect household incomes and agricultural livelihoods.

The extent of the agricultural losses, however, was not quantified in the statement.

Need for Assessment and Relief

The appeal highlights the importance of establishing the scale of the flooding, identifying the most vulnerable households and determining the assistance required in the affected communities.

An on-the-ground assessment by relevant emergency management authorities would help establish the number of displaced residents, the condition of damaged homes and farms, and the immediate humanitarian needs of affected families.

Such an assessment would also provide a basis for coordinating relief distribution and identifying longer-term recovery needs, particularly for farming households whose livelihoods may have been disrupted.

Benue Info-pedia is seeking further information on the situation, including the number of people affected, the extent of the damage and the response from the relevant authorities.

The news organisation will continue to seek clarification from Buruku Local Government Council, BSEMA and community representatives to establish the scale of the incident and determine whether emergency assistance has reached the affected residents.

As of the time of this report, the press statement provided no confirmed figures for displacement or agricultural losses and did not establish whether BSEMA had conducted an assessment or delivered relief materials.

Affected Communities Await Further Updates

The chairman assured residents of Buruku, particularly those in the affected Etulo communities, that their situation remained a concern to his administration.

The next steps will include establishing the immediate needs of displaced households, verifying reports of damage to homes and farmlands, and obtaining updates on the response by the state government and emergency management authorities.

Benue Info-pedia will continue to follow developments and provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Source: Press statement issued by Comr. Simeon Terlumun Aer, Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Buruku Local Government Council, October 9, 2026.