- Submerges farmlands, wreaks havoc in Bauchi, Kebbi, Yobe, others
Despite early warnings for action by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), floods have continued to ravage several communities in Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi and Kebbi states, with many houses and farmlands so far submerged.
Unfortunately, the incidents have wreaked so much havoc on several communities, with many people displaced, major highways damaged, and mobility becoming extremely difficult in most of the affected areas and communities.
In the process, seven fatalities have been recorded, with property valued at several hundred millions of Naira destroyed in the affected states, even as NiMET warns that the situation could further deteriorate without necessary and urgent measures being taken to address the problem.
According to the reports, these incidents are coming on the heels of NiMET’s forecast that several states nationwide will be witnessing heavy rainfalls and potential flash floods.
In warning that most states in the six geo-political zones of the country could experience heavy rains and flash floods, NiMET had listed those to be adversely impacted as Niger, Imo, Benue, and Ekiti states.
Others include Bayelsa, Delta, Plateau, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Kaduna, Osun and and Taraba states.
Similarly, the Agency predicted that moderate to heavy rainfall would occurred in parts of Zamfara, Kano, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states.
Reports said experts are now blaming the relevant authorities and members of the public for failing to heed NiMET’s advance notice concerning the impending danger.
Claims 5 Lives, Submerges Highway In Jigawa
The story coming from Jigawa State is not different as it was reliably gathered a heavy downpour that began on Friday saw the floods rendering a major highway connecting Birnin Kudu to Malawa and Babaldu communities impassable.
Available reports said this unfortunate development has affected movement of people, goods and services to neighbouring Bauchi and Gombe states.
It was also learnt that on Saturday, three girls reportedly drowned at Tulla village in Buji Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The victims: Fatima Sule, 12; Nasiya Sale, 12 and Huwaila Sa’adu were said to have been swept away by floodwaters while returning from a farm where they had gone to gather grass for their livestock.
Their bodies were recovered by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in collaboration with members of the local community, according to the Corps’ Spokesperson in the state, Badruddeen Tijjani Muhammad.
Also, residents said a flooded house collapsed at Made village in the state, killing one Hamza Garba and his son, Abdurrahman, while an unspecified number of houses and farmlands were destroyed in the communities.
In Gantsa town, Buji Local Government Council, the Information Officer, Aliyu Safiyanu Jahun disclosed that about 50 people were displaced from their homes, adding that those affected have been relocated to the local government quarters and nearby primary schools as their temporary shelters.
This is as some of the displaced persons who gave their names to reporters as Aminu Abdulkadir, Saidu Ali and Kabiru Muhammad Tukur said they were seeking alternative shelter for their respective families with their houses submerged in the raging floods.
Yobe Records 1,076 IDPs
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA) disclosed that 1,076 persons from 386 households were displaced by a flooding incident in the state.
The Agency’s Executive Secretary, Goje Muhammad, informed reporters in Damaturu, the State capital that the flood, which led to the collapse of a bridge at Buskuri, located on the Potiskum-Kano highway, affected communities along the tributaries of Rivers Jama’are and Komadugu.
He said many households across 16 communities in five local government areas in the state were also affected.
The YOSEMA boss said the communities mostly affected were in Bursari, Jakusko, Potiskum, Yunusari and Machina local government areas where farmlands along riverine areas have been submerged.
He urged residents to remain vigilant for potential hazards, including heavy rainfall, windstorms and possible disease outbreaks, adding that as directed by Governor Mai Mala Buni, relief measures were being mobilised to assist the affected communities, particularly “at this period of economic hardship”.
Kano-Maiduguri Expressway In Ruins
The floods have also damaged the Kano-Maiduguri Expressway, particularly at Malori-Guskuri villages and Sabon Gari in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State, that lies in ruins.
Reports indicated that the angry flood has badly destroyed and riped apart the Expressway, thereby prompting Governor Bala Muhammad to appeal for Federal Government’s urgent intervention.
Sabon Gari village and adjoining communities were also submerged, leaving property and farmlands destroyed and hundreds of residents, including women and children, currently displaced.
Lamenting their plight to some reporters, one of the residents, Abubakar Yau, explained that the flood suddenly began on Saturday evening and forced residents to urgently evacuate their homes.
He said though; “No life was lost in the incident, the floodwaters destroyed our houses, property and farmlands, with crops worth millions of Naira lost”.
Yau said the flood also caused a truck carrying goods to crash along the expressway, thereby disrupting traffic on the Kano-Maiduguri road for several hours.
In his reaction, the Caretaker Chairman of Katagum LGA, Musa Azare, said; “Sabon Gari village on the outskirts of Azare town, along the Kano-Maiduguri road, has been completely submerged. Every household has been affected.
“We’ve successfully evacuated everyone from the village to nearby government quarters. Thankfully, no lives were lost in the tragic floods. We’re still assessing the damage to properties.
“Katagum Local Government Council is working with state and national emergency management agencies in this regard. The council has donated N1 million to assist the victims”
Azare thanked Governor Mohammed for sending 900 bags of various grains, 300 bags each of rice, sorghum and maize, as well as 250 mattresses and blankets to the affected residents.
On his part, the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Farouk II, who visited the area to sympathise with the people, donated N2 million to assist the victims meet their urgent welfare needs.
Reports had also emerged last week that two persons were swept away by floods at Dakingari area of Kebbi State due to a heavy rainfall while over 200 homes were reportedly damaged in Argungu area of the North West state. – With additional reports from Daily Trust
