A 50-year-old man, Augustine Ojo, has died after he was swept away by floodwaters in Uguewebo Community, Umudiode, Edo State.
The incident occurred on Monday night as the deceased, a father of seven, was reportedly returning home on his motorcycle and attempting to cross a wooden bridge linking the community.
Residents attributed the flooding to severe gully erosion allegedly triggered by ongoing rehabilitation work on the Benin–Auchi Road.
A community source, who requested anonymity, said the flood had weakened the soil supporting the wooden bridge before it eventually gave way, throwing Ojo into the gully.
Despite frantic efforts by residents to rescue him, he was swept away by the raging flood. His body was later recovered around 2 a.m. after youths and other villagers carried out an extensive search.
Community members alleged that drainage channels constructed by the road contractor diverted large volumes of stormwater into the area, worsening erosion and cutting the community into two.
They added that the erosion has forced residents, including schoolchildren, to rely on makeshift wooden bridges to access their homes, schools and farms, warning that more lives could be at risk if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the youth leader, Augustine Ewonwa, appealed to the Edo State Government and other relevant authorities to intervene immediately. He also claimed that previous appeals to the construction company to address the drainage challenge had produced no result.
When contacted, the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Emergency Management Agency, Jerry Idahosa, said the agency had not been informed of the incident.
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