Four people were
reported dead after
torrential rains which lasted several hours and caused floods in Jigawa and Kebbi States.
Daily Trust reports that over 500 houses have been destroyed and farm produce worth over N20m lost in Roni local government of Jigawa State.
Reports indicates that the flood washed away houses, farmlands and food, and displaced over 1000 families.
In Kebbi State, the flood occurred in Bunza local government area, leaving two people dead.
The flood swept away over eight villages of Amaryawa, Ruwan, Dutse, Takwardawa, Unguwar Mani and Kwaitai in Jigawa State and was described by local government officials as unprecedented.
Already, medical personnel drafted by the local authorities were busy attending to displaced persons, at the Roni local government secretariat in attempts to control the outbreak of cholera and other diseases.
According to Alhaji Babangida Audi Kazaure, the public relations officer to the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Ya’u Roni, the flood caused serious damage to houses.
Daily Trust also learnt that the chairman of the council, Alhaji Lawan Dansure, has visited the area and commiserated with the victims.
Alhaji Dansure said assessment so far has shown that over N10m farm produce was washed away and N20m worth of property destroyed.
The rain which lasted about 12 hours on Friday lasted till late evening and caused stampede away.
The Kebbi flood which affected 36 houses, occurred at about 11am over the weekend resulting in the collapse of buildings.
The two victims, Fatima Usman (6yrs) and Abubakar Usman (4yrs) were trapped in a collapsed building and died instantly.
Spokesman of the family, Alhaji Mohammadu Aliyu Bunza, narrated that the father of the children, Mallam Usman Aliyu Bunza, was also seriously injured along with three others.
Confirming the incident, the Bunza local government council chairman, Alhaji Bello Aliyu Bunza, told governor Adamu Aliero, who visited the area, that an unusual wind caused the collapsed of the building.
Responding, Governor Adamu Aliero, assured that the state government will as a matter of urgency, send relief materials to the affected persons.
In a related development the Gombe State government has released the sum of N150million for the procurement of relief materials, for victims of flood disaster, just as the Nigeria. Red cross society, Gombe State office and other non-governmental organisation are still searching for the missing 15 people.
Governor Muhammad Danjuma Goje, while receiving the interim report of a committee set up to assess damage of the flood, explained that the money was meant to provide relief materials to the flood victims.
The governor explained that the magnitude of the flood disaster was beyond the state and called on the federal government to act through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to as a matter of urgently come to the aid of the displaced people, whom he said are living in a terrible condition.
“This is a calamity that has never happened before in the history of Gombe. And I pray to Gad that it will never happen again. I wish to express my deep sympathy to all the victims as well as to condole the families of those who lost their relations in the disaster,” the governor stated.
The governor assured that the government would study the report and implement it to the later, while stressing that he is awaiting the committee’s comprehensive report.
Mr. David Albashi, chairman of the committee and also commissioner for water resources and environment, had told the governor that over 1000 people have been displaced, while over 400 houses were destroyed, and 15 people were confirmed dead and 50 others sustained injuries.
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