Cross River State Governor, Bassey  Otu, has pledged to strengthen flood mitigation and emergency response systems in the state following a devastating flood-induced landslide and building collapse in Calabar that claimed five lives, including four children from the same family.

The governor, who made the pledge after visiting victims of the disaster on Sunday, described the scale of destruction and the loss of lives as deeply heartbreaking.

“Today, I visited victims of the recent flood disaster in Calabar, and my heart was deeply burdened by the magnitude of the devastation and the tragic loss of lives,” Otu said.

The disaster occurred at Ikot Anwatim, Ward 7, in Calabar Municipality, where two buildings collapsed following persistent rainfall on Friday night. The incident reportedly happened around 9:30 p.m., destroying property and trapping occupants beneath the rubble.

The Guardian reports that the Chairman of Calabar Municipal Council, James Anam, rushed to the scene in the early hours of Saturday after receiving a distress call and conducted an on-the-spot assessment alongside officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Nigerian Red Cross.

The assessment revealed that four children, aged between six and 12 years from one household, died in the collapse, while another adult from a neighbouring building also lost his life. The adult victim’s body had been deposited at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital mortuary before the inspection.

Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, Otu acknowledged that no words could adequately ease their grief.

He assured residents that the state government would take decisive steps to minimise the risk of similar disasters, saying efforts would focus on strengthening flood mitigation measures and emergency response systems.

IN another development, Otu lauded the enduring impact of the Bridge Leadership Foundation, describing it as a transformative platform grooming a new generation of leaders capable of driving the state’s future development.

The governor spoke at the Foundation’s 16th Career Day Conference and 15th anniversary celebration in Calabar, where he paid glowing tribute to its founder and former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, for his sustained investment in youth leadership development.

“My soul leaps with joy, and I feel deeply honoured to celebrate 15 years of the Bridge Leadership Foundation; 15 years of building bridges, not just between people, but between potential and possibilities, between mission and vision,” Otu said.

Describing Imoke as a visionary leader, the governor said the Foundation had become a lasting legacy and noted that its impact would continue to shape Cross River’s future. He observed that more than 200,000 young people had passed through its programmes, describing the achievement as a strategic investment in the state’s human capital.