By Iroyin Yoruba Television News Desk
At least 1,400 birds have been killed and a palm oil mill destroyed after hours of torrential rainfall triggered flooding in Enwan community, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
The flooding occurred on Monday, 28 September 2026, after rain began at approximately 6 a.m. and continued for several hours, submerging residential premises, farmlands and poultry operations in the community.
WHAT HAPPENED
The floodwater swept through the community, catching residents off guard in the early hours of the morning. Monday John, owner of a poultry farm in the area, said he woke up to discover that water had taken over his entire premises.
“That is my house. I have a poultry farm. The floodwater took over everywhere. The flood killed 1,400 of my birds,” John said. “The rain began at 6 a.m. I woke up to see water everywhere. The government should talk to the water board people. They should tell them when to release water.”
The flooding also destroyed a palm oil mill belonging to Chief John Omaze, a resident of the community. Omaze said the floodwater entered his house and destroyed the mill, dealing a severe blow to his livelihood.
“The flood destroyed my palm oil mill. Our children could not go to school, and many people did not go to the farm,” Omaze said.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
The flooding disrupted economic and educational activities across Enwan. Many farmers were unable to access their farms, while pupils could not attend school. The community’s road network and surrounding farmland were submerged, cutting off normal daily movement.
Residents described the destruction of the poultry operation as a significant economic loss. The 1,400 birds represented the entire stock of one farm, and the owner said the flood had destroyed his major source of livelihood, leaving him with substantial losses.
The palm oil mill destroyed in the flooding served as a processing facility for local palm produce, an economic mainstay in parts of Edo State’s Akoko-Edo area.
RESIDENTS POINT TO WATER RELEASE
Residents attributed the severity of the flooding to water released from a dam or water management facility, though the specific source was not named in their statements. They called on the government and relevant water management authorities to address the recurring flooding and prevent further destruction of lives and property.
“The government should talk to the water board people. They should tell them when to release water,” John said, indicating that residents believed the flooding was linked to controlled water releases that they were not adequately warned about.
The residents’ appeal suggests a pattern of flooding in the community that they believe is connected to water management operations upstream. The specific water board or dam authority responsible was not identified in the residents’ statements.
FLOODING PATTERN IN EDO AND NIGERIA
Edo State’s Akoko-Edo Local Government Area sits in the northern part of the state, a region characterised by rolling hills, river systems and agricultural communities. Flooding in the area has been linked in the past to both heavy rainfall and water releases from dams.
The flooding in Enwan is the latest in a series of flood incidents across Nigeria. In September 2026, flooding also submerged several houses in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, after a downpour lasting more than nine hours. The Federal Government has issued flood alerts to residents of 24 states, warning of communities at risk.
Nigeria’s flood season typically runs from June to October, with peak flooding often occurring in September. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency have consistently warned of flooding in riverine and low-lying communities during this period.
The destruction of a poultry operation and a palm oil mill in Enwan reflects the vulnerability of agricultural livelihoods to flooding. Unlike large-scale industrial losses, the destruction of smallholder farms and processing facilities often goes unquantified in official disaster assessments, leaving affected families without systematic support.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Residents have called for urgent intervention by the government and relevant water management authorities. They want both immediate relief and a longer-term solution to the recurring flooding that they attribute to water releases.
The Edo State Government has not issued a statement on the Enwan flooding or announced any relief measures. The specific water management authority responsible for the dam or facility the residents referenced has not responded publicly.
The extent of the damage to other properties, farmlands and infrastructure in the community beyond the poultry farm and palm oil mill has not been officially assessed.
WHAT REMAINS UNCLEAR
Several key questions remain unanswered. The specific source of the floodwater — whether it was solely rainfall, a water release, or a combination of both — has not been officially confirmed. The residents’ attribution to water board operations is based on their experience but has not been verified by authorities.
The number of households affected, the total hectares of farmland submerged, and the full economic value of the losses have not been established. The Edo State Government has not announced whether it will provide relief or compensation to affected residents.
The identity and operational schedule of the water management facility the residents referenced remain undisclosed. No statement has been issued by any water board or dam authority acknowledging or denying responsibility for the flooding.
For now, the flooding in Enwan stands as a confirmed incident that killed 1,400 birds, destroyed a palm oil mill and disrupted daily life, with the full scale of the damage and the question of accountability still unresolved.