Flood kills 24, destroys N7.8 billion properties in Bauchi
Flood forces closure of Borno schools for two weeks
The Bauchi State Government has officially announced that 24 residents were killed while 163 people sustained different injuries, mostly in the Northern part of the state during the recent flood disaster.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Yakubu Wanka, told journalists yesterday while speaking after the State Executive Council meeting. She disclosed that persistent heavy rainfall witnessed in recent weeks led to flooding that has displaced 122,330 persons in several local governments in the state, with Shira, Giade, Dambam, and Itas Gadau mostly affected.
According to her, the flood washed away 60 culverts and cut out 12 major roads in the state, disrupting social and economic activities in many parts of the state.
Further reeling out the losses, she said 11,183 livestock were lost to the flooding that also destroyed 2,000 houses, adding that 178 electric poles were destroyed while 52,035 houses were affected by the disaster.
She commended the Federal Government for the quick response to the disasters by sending delegations to support victims in the state, including the deployment of four ministers by President Bola Tinubu adding that the governor has set up a committee to ascertain the level of damage recorded and come out with a lasting solution to the problem.
Also, the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said more than N7.81 billion farmlands and properties were destroyed by flooding in 16 local government areas (LGA) of the state. The director, planning, research, and statistics of the agency, Adamu Nayola, said this in an interview with journalists on Monday. He attributed the devastating flood to heavy downpours in the last two months in the northern part of the state.
MEANWHILE, the Borno State Government has announced the closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state for two weeks due to floods that have displaced many residents. A statement on Monday by the Acting Director of Schools Services, Grema Bulama, said the development had displaced some people across the state.
“Due to the ongoing flooding across the state and its adverse effects, the Borno State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation has directed a statewide closure of all schools, both public and private, until Monday, Sept. 23.
“We urge all concerned parties to comply strictly with this directive. We regret any inconvenience this notice may have caused and we appreciate your understanding,” the statement added.
The schools were initially scheduled to open in Borno yesterday but some of the schools were occupied by people displaced by flood. There was a mild drama in Gwange Ward of Maiduguri when people displaced by floods resisted attempts by government officials to make them vacate a school where they had been taking refuge since last week.
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