Flood kills 50, displaces hundreds in Jigawa

Fifty persons have been confirmed dead and hundreds of residents displaced, as flood ravaged parts of Jigawa State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Addressing newsmen in Dutse, yesterday, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sani Yusuf, said the flood destroyed thousands of homes in the state on Saturday.

He noted that the situation forced Jigawa residents to take refuge in other places, including government buildings, and the state government accommodated many displaced persons in 11 temporary camps.

Some of the victims are drawn from Balangu village, where four persons died and no fewer than 237 houses destroyed.

“We have so many displaced persons in about 11 temporary camps. In Balangu alone, 237 houses have been damaged and they (occupants) are now living in temporary camps. Four people also died in that same village, after the six in Kafin Hausa. So, when you go round the state, we lost about 50 people to the flood. Even yesterday, seven people from the same family died.”

As part of the Federal Government’s intervention efforts, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, visited the North West state to provide relief materials to the victims, alongside the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib.

The minister said her mission to the state was based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to provide the necessary support to the flood victims.

She said: “This incident is particularly sad because it has become perennial. This is causing serious damage to schools, houses and the livelihoods of people.

“Upon receiving this unfortunate news, President Buhari directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to activate NEMA to provide the necessary support to the affected persons.”

In his remarks, Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa commended the Federal Government for “quick response to the incident.”He lamented the flooding, which he said caused so much trauma to the victims.

The governor expressed hope that the government’s intervention would cushion the effect of the natural disaster on the people.

“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 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and all afflictions. You are always on time to support our people. We can’t thank you enough,” the governor added.