Residents of Angwan Jarawa in Farin Gada area of Jos, Plateau State, have cried out over flooding that ravaged the community on Tuesday.

Some of the residents told the Peoples Gazette that the community has been battling flooding for some years.

It was observed that a bridge in the community was also flooded worsened by rising rivers, poor drainage system, and blocked inlets.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity because he’s authorised to speak on behalf of the community leaders said, “Whenever it rains, there’s no access road for residents to pass.”

He stated that the situation continued despite repeated appeals to the state government, through the ministry of environment.

He also urged residents to dispose waste responsibly and observe proper sanitation.

Speaking with The Gazette, an unidentified resident of a neighbouring community said the flooding had persisted for five years.

“The government should come to our rescue. We need an enlargement of the bridge,” he appealed.

A mechanic and resident identified only as Mr Kehinde, whose workshop is situated within the flooded area also blamed the bridge’s size, noting that it could not contain the heavy flow witnessed yearly.

“We complained about this some years ago that something has to be done about the bridge,” he said.

He noted that though the government did was not initally responsible for the bridge construction, it could assist the dwellers by alleviating their suffering occasioned by the flooding.

He, however, condemned the indiscriminate refuse dump in the area, saying “They dump dirt there. They carry refuse from the market and dump it into the bridge. If you speak up, they will fight you.”

Efforts to get the comment of the Director-General of the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) on the issue were futile.

He had yet to pick calls made to his mobile nor respond to a message sent to his WhatsApp as of the time this report was filed.