Over 2,000 houses in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, have been ravaged by floods following a heavy downpour.

Heavy rains lasting over four hours lashed the city overnight into the early hours of today, resulting in houses around the Nyiman, Idye and Naka road areas badly flooded.

Most of the flood waters originated from an uncompleted canal, which overflowed into the affected communities.

Officials of the Benue State Urban Development Board blamed the flooding on people illegally erecting buildings in the path of water channels.

One of the residents who spoke to channels television says the community heads had been selling lands indiscriminately to buyers in the area, not minding that it is located in a flood plain. (Channels TV)