Adamawa, Jigawa count loses from flood incidents

File Photo A flooded area: Flood causes havoc in Adamawa, Jigawa

Heavy rain accompanied by flood has led to massive displacement of families, destruction of houses and farmlands in Adamawa and Jigawa States.
In Adamawa, the State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), said 66 houses and  150 farmlands  were destroyed by flood in Lababiri village, Bakta district in Shelleng Local Government Area of the state.
Dr Mohamed Sulaiman, Executive Secretary, ADSEMA, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Saturday in Yola.
Sulaiman said the catastrophe occurred between Aug. 11 and  12, following uninterrupted  torrential downpours that lasted for two days.
“The agency received a report of  the incident in Lababiri village, where  more than 150 farmlands and about 66 houses were destroyed by the flood,” Sulaiman said.
He said people of the affected community, were currently  taking refuge in neighbouring villages.
The ADSEMA boss, however, said the number of casualties were yet to be ascertained, adding that it had deployed some staff for more details and emergency services.

Also, heavy rain, has displaced more than 120 families at Unguwar Tsallake area of Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Information Officer in charge of the council, Alhaji Sunusi Doro, told on Saturday that the incident occurred after a torrential rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday.

Doro said the flood submerged more than 120 houses, thereby rendering the occupants homeless.

“Some of the houses have already collapsed while others were submerged.

“Most the occupants are now staying in their relatives’ residences, as the water has denied them access to their houses,” Doro said.

He explained that the flooding had also cut off the general hospital in the area, adding that the residents had to navigate through the flooded water before they could access the facility.

The information officer quoted the Council Chairman, Alhaji Musa Shuaibu, as sympthising with the victims, appealed to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to come to their aid.

Shuaibu said that the council, at its level, had provided empty sacks for residents to erect embankments, as part of measures to control flooding.

The council boss also advised people in the area to always clear culverts and drains in order to ensure a clean environment and free flow of water, whenever it rained.

“The chairman also disclosed that the council would soon purchase relief items for distribution to victims of cholera outbreak in the area.

“He said that the council had so far spent N400,000 on the procurement of drugs to the seven villages affected by the outbreak,” Doro said.