Flood Disaster Submerge Communities In Nasarawa, Displace 90,000 Persons

Rabiu Omaku

No fewer than 90,000 Persons were displaced by the flood disaster in Nasarawa state, The State Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency, Barrister. Zachary Zamani Alumaga has hinted.

Alumaga stated this in an interview with selected Journalists, He explained that the ninety Thousand Internally Displaced Persons are from one of the flood risk Local Government, which he said Nasarawa Local Government sharing boundary with river Benue.

The Executive Secretary however maintained that out of the 90,000 displaced victims 65,000 are from Odeni Magaji, He confirmed that the community with a population of 65,000 people was submerged by flood disaster and are taken refuge in Mararaban Udegi.

Barrister Zachary Zamani Alumaga said a total of 25,000 Persons were also displaced in Ara community of Nasarawa Local Government in a few weeks ago and were camped in Nasarawa, The headquarter of Nasarawa Local Government.

He said other valuables like houses and farms are washed away in the incident that left people homeless, attributing the carnage to the refusal of commoners to abide by all safety and precautionary measures adopted by NASEMA.

The Executive Secretary averred that the measures taken include an early warning to people at the flood-prone communities closed to river Benue, He in addition said preventive and curative measures were taken to ameliorate flood.

He listed the preventive measures to avert flood in urban centers to include sensitization to prevent people from farming, building, and dumping of refuse along waterways.

While given the breakdown of affected communities to include the Ribi community in Awe Local Government,Ara in Nasararwa Local Government, Odeni Magaji in Nasararwa Local Government.

Alumaga explained that some of the Local Government Councils that are prone to flood disasters are Awe, Lafia, Nasarawa, Toto, and Keana while those listed as a flashpoint for flood are Nasarawa Eggon, Karu.

‘’Awe, Doma, Toto, Nasarawa shared boundary with river Benue; He said the rapid response team is working round the clock to tackle any eventuality within the riverine communities’’.

He buttressed that the state Government procured 5 boats and distribute it to the flood-prone communities to evacuate and resettled people in need of aid, He added that life serving jackets and stretchers were also distributed to people at the flood-prone communities.

The Executive Secretary explained that the Government of Nasarawa state procured 45 trucks of grains and other consumables and stuck in a warehouse in case of any emergency as well as building materials.

Following the complaints raised by displaced persons over the non-accessibility of the relief materials, He confirmed the involvement of some persons in the diversion of food items donated by the state Government.

He further hinted that National Emergency Management Agency donated food items, blankets, buckets, sanitary pad, mattress, salt, seasoning, palm, and groundnut oil as well 142 bags rice, maize, and beans to NASEMA meant for the 498 family members mostly women and children of Boko Haram captured by the military.

Zachary Alumaga however said 20 out of the 498 were from Gidan Gada in the Amaku community of Nasarawa Local Government, stating that they would be handed over to the Local Government for radicalization, He said women amongst them would be exposed to skill acquisition.

 

The Council Chairman, Honorable Mohammed Otos could not be reached for comments at press time to ascertain the level of destruction caused in Udeni Magaji and Ara communities which were submerged as he not respond to calls placed to his phone.