Benue State, famously known as the Food Basket of the Nation, is on the brink of another humanitarian crisis as deadly floods are projected to sweep through the region in the coming months.
This warning comes from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which, in its 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, listed Benue among states expected to experience severe flooding.
The agency identified over 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas in 30 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, that are at high risk. Among these, Benue State stands out as particularly vulnerable due to its location along the River Benue and a history of devastating flood events.
For many residents, especially those living in Makurdi and riverine communities, flooding has become an annual nightmare. The 2012 floods remain a painful memory, having displaced over 100,000 residents and submerged homes, schools, roads, and farmlands.
In 2017, a similar disaster affected over 110,000 people in 24 communities. Since then, Benue has continued to suffer from smaller but damaging floods in 2020, 2022, and 2023, with many people left internally displaced and struggling to rebuild their lives.
Experts attribute the recurring floods to a mix of natural and man-made factors, including the overflow of River Benue, the periodic release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, blocked waterways, poor urban drainage, and the intensifying effects of climate change.
These factors have left many residents on edge, fearing each new rainy season and the destruction it could bring.
Reacting to the recent flood forecast, the Benue State Government has ramped up preparations to mitigate the looming disaster. Governor Hyacinth Alia assured the public that proactive steps are being taken to safeguard lives and property.
He stated that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been placed on high alert and that temporary shelters are being set up in strategic locations.
The government has also launched public awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging those living within one kilometre of the River Benue to relocate to safer areas before the rains intensify.
In addition, the state government is collaborating with federal agencies to implement early warning systems and community-based flood prediction models, which will allow vulnerable communities to receive localized alerts and prepare accordingly.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change emphasized that the state is not taking chances this time.
He explained that the ministry has been conducting vulnerability assessments across the 23 local government areas and is developing community-level flood risk maps to guide emergency response operations.
Public sensitization campaigns are ongoing, and drainage channels and waterways are being cleared in anticipation of heavy rainfall.
Despite these assurances, many residents remain deeply worried. Eunice Akpa, a resident of North Bank in Makurdi, expressed her frustration, saying that each year the government tells them to relocate, but there is nowhere to go. She noted that the floods always come, and they lose everything again.
With insecurity on the rise in nearby villages, she added that even the option of relocating to rural areas no longer feels safe.
In Agatu, a local farmer, Mrs. Ichalefu Oyiwodu, said the government must take the situation seriously this time.
She fears that the floods will ruin their farms, and even fleeing to urban centers offers no relief due to the persistent threat of violence from armed herdsmen.
According to her, residents are caught in a dangerous limbo, between rising waters and rising insecurity.
Shima Akaa, a fisherman in Makurdi, echoed similar concerns. He said people are tired of empty promises and repeated disasters. Each year, water washes away homes and farmlands, and yet there’s no sustainable plan in place.
He urged the government to begin constructing emergency camps immediately, rather than waiting until people are already stranded by floodwaters. He also called on the authorities to clear blocked drainage systems and provide real assistance, especially to families who cannot afford to relocate on their own.
In Logo Local Government Area, community leader Elder Godwin Abuul painted a grim picture of life in the rural areas. According to him, people have died from both flooding and attacks by armed groups.
He warned that unless the government acts swiftly, the coming flood will cause even greater tragedy. He revealed that he lost his yam farm to floods last year and has nowhere to turn if disaster strikes again. He called for the immediate opening of new internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and the provision of food, shelter, and medicine ahead of the rains.
The expected flood disaster adds another layer of complexity to Benue’s already fragile situation. In recent months, the state has been grappling with an alarming surge in attacks by suspected herdsmen and armed bandits.
In Guma, Logo, Otukpo, Agatu, and Apa LGAs, dozens of communities have come under siege, with many villagers killed and thousands more displaced into makeshift camps.
The simultaneous threats of flood and bloodshed present a unique and urgent challenge for the Alia-led administration.
As the rainy season approaches, the people of Benue are left to hope that their cries will be heard, and that this time, the government will act before the waters rise and the suffering deepens.