The Deputy Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the State Flood Relief Committee, Tele Ikuru, has made it known that no fewer than eight victims of the flood disaster in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, have died at their camps.
Ikuru, who announced this yesterday in Port Harcourt, said the government would not hesitate to sanction any traditional ruler caught diverting relief materials meant for victims. According to the Deputy Governor, there are reports that some traditional rulers and community leaders were diverting relief materials meant for victims in camps in their domains.
He then urged traditional rulers and leaders in communities affected by the flood to work with government officials to effectively distribute the relief materials.
In his words: “It is absurd for chiefs and leaders of some communities to bring their chieftaincy and communal problems to the camps, and engage in favoritism and criminal diversion of relief materials meant for the flood victims. Such acts of criminality will not be condoned henceforth, and defaulters will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Source: Vanguard
