How Flood killed18, Destroyed Over 6,000 Houses In Jigawa

At least 18 [eighteen] people have been killed and more than 6,637 houses destroyed by flood which ravaged 19 local government areas of Jigawa state, the News Agency of Nigeria is reporting.

At least 18 people have been killed and more than 6,637 houses destroyed by flood which ravaged 19 local government areas of Jigawa state.

Alhaji Yusuf Sani, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed on Tuesday in Dutse that the incidents occurred during the current rainy season.

The deaths, he said, were recorded in Gwaram, Dutse, Jahun, Gumel and Ringim local governments.

Some of deaths were as a result of building collapse and it caused three persons to sustained injuries.

Flood destroyed 141 houses in Dutse; 419 in Jahun; 525 in Hadejia, 417 in Babura; 525 in Ringim; 822 in Gumel; 529 in Malammadori and 126 in Birninkudu local government areas.

According to him, 68 houses were destroyed in Taura; 120 in Kazaure; 691 in Maigatari; 336 in Gagarawa; 67 in Buji; 96 in Kirikasamma; 101 in Garki; 856 in Kiyawa; 87 in Kafinhausa; 57 in Gwaram and 54 in Suletankarkar local governments.

He said the state government had already intervened by providing cash assistance to be given to the victims in phases.

“The state has already started intervening in order to mitigate the suffering of the victims.

“We started with Jahun Local Government Area where we gave over N2.3 million to the victims to buy foodstuff.

“And this will continue until we reach all the victims in the state,” he said.

The Federal Government had requested Nigerians, particularly those living along the banks to immediately relocate to safer locations away from the river in view of an imminent heavy downpour forecasted to happen in mid-2016.

The National Orientation Agency, NOA, said in a press statement that the alert was necessitated by intelligence reports from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, as well as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN-OCHA.

The Meteorological service had also warned Nigerians of heavy floods this season and advised people to be more careful.