(Nigeria News) Villagers forced to use boats, homes completely submerged underwater and animals seeking refuge from the encroaching waters are the scenes in Lokoja, a town in Kogi state on the frontline of the flood in Nigeria UPDATED: 820, 282 people have been displaced across Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Anambra & Kogi states (latest figures released from Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency) "The flood has taken over more than one-third of the town," says Emmanuel Idoko, a local businessman. "Some people are cut off from the town entirely." Some of the heaviest rains for years, as well as the release of excess water from Cameroon's Lagdo dam have left hundreds of thousands displaced and unknown numbers of people dead across the country. "This is the largest, highest flood I have experienced in my life," says one local villager as he looks out across the water. "The water now is 12.54 metres above water level." Local communities are leaving for higher ground and local businesses are reporting a 80% drop in custom. The water supply to the town has been shut-off and electricity supply is, at best, only a few hours a day in areas not affected by the flood but people are relying on their generators. NEMA has set up 87 IDP camps for Kogi state alone where they say at least 623690 people in 344 communities have been displaced. In our photos and video the Ibaji Local Government Area is almost completely submerged. "It is now necessary to call ...

• published: 29 Sep 2012
• views: 4803
• author: BattaBox