Number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bayelsa State has risen to over 25, 000 in both private and five government-owned camps scattered across the state. This followed flooding in the state.

Yesterday, the largest camp at Ox-bow lake, Yenagoa had registered over 10, 000 persons, including women, men and children, while the other two camps at Igbogene, Yenagoa and Ayama in Southern Ijaw also registered new persons.

Chairman of the state task force on mitigation and management of the flood, Eselema Gbaranbiri, and his committee members has so far handed out food items to over 25 private IDP camps in Yenagoa metropolis alone.

MEANWHILE, a statement signed by Mr. George Oji, media Adviser to former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, quoted the ex-minister as urging the Federal Government to take the lead role rather than leaving the state government to contend with the flood disaster alone.

Lokpobiri described the flood situation in Bayelsa as very deplorable, and urged the government to provide succour to the affected communities through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the NDDC as well as other intervention agencies and not encumber the state alone with the challenge.

The statement quoted the minister as saying: “For most of us outside the state, we were shocked and saddened by reports of the degree of damage to even hospitals and farmlands.”