METRO: Sorrow As Flood Kills 50, Displaces Scores In Jigawa

Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed reports,

About fifty persons have gone to heaven with many displaced as flood ravages some area of Jigawa State, authorities disclosed on Saturday.

While speaking with Track News Nigeria in Dutse, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sani Yusuf, confirmed that the flood destroyed thousands of homes in the state.

He added that the situation coerced the Jigawa residents to take refuge in other places, which include government buildings.

Track News Nigeria covers that the state government accommodated many displaced persons in 11 temporary camps.

Some of the victims are drawn from Balangu village where no fewer than 237 houses were destroyed with four people dead.

According to Yusuf: “We have so many displaced persons about 11 temporary camps. In Balangu alone 237 houses have been damaged and they are now living in a temporary camp.”

“Four people also died in that same village, after the six in Kafin Hausa. So, when you go around the state we lost about 50 people to the flood now. Even yesterday, seven people from the same family died.”

As part of the Federal Government’s intervention efforts, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar, visited the North-Western state to distribute relief materials.

She was in the state along with the Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib, to provide succour to the victims.

The Minister explained that her mission to the state banked on President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to provide the vital support to the flood-ravaged victims.

“This incident is particularly sad because it has become perennial. This is causing serious damage to schools, houses, and the livelihood of the people,” Umar said.

“Upon receiving this unfortunate news, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to activate the National Emergency Management Agency to respond and provide the necessary support to the affected persons.”

In reaction, Hon. Badaru Abubakar, the Jigawa State Governor, thanked the Federal Government for what he describes as a brisk response to the incident.

However, he bemoaned the flooding situation, commenting that it has caused ample trauma to the victims.

“The latest incident happened four to five days ago and already relief materials are on the ground. We have seen the kind of support we received during the COVID-19 pandemic and all afflictions. You are always apt and on time to support our people. We can’t thank you enough.”