ILLUSHI, NIGERIA — Residents of Illushi community in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State are appealing for urgent government intervention as the worst flooding in years submerges homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure, leaving thousands displaced and destitute.
The flood, which has been described by locals as the most severe in recent memory, has inundated vast areas of the community, which is located downstream of the River Niger, with the water levels rising rapidly due to heavy rainfall and the release of water from upstream dams. According to a 2025 flood risk assessment study, Illushi’s topography, with ground elevation ranging from 23m to 40m, makes the community exceptionally vulnerable to flooding .
A Community Under Water
Local sources indicate that homes and public facilities have been submerged, forcing hundreds of families to abandon their houses and seek refuge on higher ground and in makeshift camps. The flood has also devastated the agricultural sector, with thousands of hectares of farmland and crops destroyed. The community’s primary economic activities are fishing and farming, which are heavily dependent on the floodplain, leaving residents with no source of income. Reports from the Edo State Emergency Management Agency indicate that the state has received the names of about 1,000 farmers whose farmlands and crops were destroyed by the flood .
The situation in Illushi reflects a broader crisis across the state. The Federal Government has classified Edo State, along with several others, as being at critical risk of flooding . In response, EDOSEMA had earlier warned that Illushi, along with Etsako Central and Etsako East, were expected to experience severe flooding .
Calls for Intervention
Residents are now calling on the Edo State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency to provide immediate relief, including food, clean water, medicine, and shelter. The floods have also heightened concerns about the spread of waterborne diseases, as stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pathogens.
EDOSEMA has prepared internally displaced persons’ camps for flood emergencies . Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo is expected to approve assistance for flood victims, with EDOSEMA awaiting the governor’s approval to proceed with interventions for those whose farms and property were swept away . However, with the scale of the devastation in Illushi, residents fear that current measures may be insufficient.
Underlying Causes and Long-Term Solutions
The devastating flood in Illushi is a combination of natural and human factors. The National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre has attributed the current flood risk to a combination of high soil moisture, rainfall, rapid surface runoff, and rising river levels . However, compounding the problem, EDOSEMA has also noted that indiscriminate dumping of refuse and illegal construction on waterways have worsened the flooding . The government has threatened to demolish buildings on waterways and flood channels to mitigate future flooding .
As floodwaters continue to rise, the people of Illushi are in a desperate race against time, appealing for government and humanitarian intervention before the situation becomes even more dire. With the rainy season still underway, the risk of further flooding remains high. For now, the residents continue to cry for help, hoping their voices will not go unheard.
