Disaster Hits Bauchi As Flood Claims 3 Lives, Destroys 2,062 Houses

• 6,000 farmlands also in dire straits
• Communities in Adamawa cry out

The Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (BASEMA) says urgent interventions are needed to manage the rampaging flood that has already claimed three lives with about 2,062 houses destroyed across the state.

Also affected by the flood that has endangered the Northeast state this year due to a heavy downpour are about 6,000 farmlands.

BASEMA’s Head of Operations, Dr Abubakar Gabarin told reporters in Bauchi that communities affected by the spread across about 17 local government areas, destroying property valued at over N900 million.

Gabarin listed the affected local government areas as Alkaleri, Kirfi, Jammare, Bauchi, Ningi, Zaki Giade, and Itas Gadau Gamawa. Others include Shira, Darazo, Dambam Bogoro, Katagum, Dass, and Warji.

He said the Agency has been working hard and round the clock to cushion the effect of the flood, adding that many people whose households were washed away were currently taking refuge in either their neighbours’ houses and neighbouring villages.

“This year by our records, we have recorded three deaths and 24 injured persons as well as the destruction of 2062 households and 6000 farmlands,” he said, adding that the agency would continue to sensitise the public on the dangers of flooding.

According to him, BESEMA is collaborating with development and other partners on mitigation measures against flood

In a related development, floods have destroyed bridges along two major roads in Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The affected roads are the Jabbi-Lamba to Belel and Nguli to Belel, all running across a number of local government areas across the northern part of the State.

Also, Tuesday’s heavy downpour washed away Dilichim bridge, cutting away communities in Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas from the rest of Adamawa.

Vice-Chairman of Michika Local Government Council, Alhaji Aliyu Kwaji, who called for urgent action to reconstruct the bridge, said; “The communities have been completely cut off from the rest of the world.”

“To my knowledge, the contract for this federal road has been given to a company named A.G Vision by the Federal Government. The company has started scraping the road some weeks ago, but what we want now is for it to concentrate on the bridge,” Kwaji said

He said the affected places being agrarian communities, many farmers are severely affected by the collapse of the two roads.

According to him, though no life was lost, valuable properties were destroyed by the floods. – With Agency reports