Raging Flood Kills 50, Injures Many More

No less than 50 people have been killed by a raging flood in Jigawa State. The incident also left many more injured.

The executive secretary, Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sani Yusuf, confirmed the incident and added that many people were also displaced.

Disclosing this on Sunday, to pressmen, Alhaji Yusuf, said the flood destroyed thousands of homes in the state.

According to him, the situation forced Jigawa residents to take refuge in other places, which include government buildings.

The SEWA executive added that the state government accommodated many displaced persons in 11 temporary camps.

Alhaji Yusuf further disclosed that some of the victims are from Balangu village where no fewer than 237 houses were destroyed with four people dead.

In his words, “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.”

He also disclosed that 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.

The minister was in the state alongside the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib, to provide succour to the victims.

Sadiya Umar stated that her mission to the state was based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to provide the necessary 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.

“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.”

The Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar, commended the Federal Government for what he describes as a quick response to the incident.

He lamented that the flooding situation, has caused so much trauma to the victims.

Badaru Abubakar is hopeful that the government’s intervention will cushion the effect on the people.

According to him, “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.”