Flood sweeps away two children, displaces residents in Kafanchan

There was pandemonium in Kafanchan town in the Southern part of Kaduna State, as a flood wreaked havoc, sweeping away two children and displacing over 1000 residents in the community.

Vice Chairman of Jema’a LGA, Mrs Christy Usman, disclosed this when she reviewed the Kaduna State Impact Assessment Committee on a recent incident of flooding while on tour of affected communities in Southern Kaduna.

She said the flood incidents that occurred in parts of Kafanchan Municipal City, Jagindi, Atuku, Aso, and Bade wards, washed away farmlands, destroying crops worth millions of naira.

According to her, “The flood has affected people of Jema’a Local Government economically, but we are happy that, the Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has responded positively by sending the committee chaired by the Chief of Staff, Malam Sani Liman Kila, to come and assess the impact of the flood.

“We are happy that the governor is reacting to the plight of the people. We know, with this visit, compensation is coming and relief is coming for the victims of the flood disaster.

“Apart from farmlands washed away by the flood, over 1,000 people were affected. From a canal here in Kafanchan, two children were reported to have been taken away by the flood.

“We are therefore hopeful that, the government will bring relief materials to the victims, especially food items, building materials, and financial assistance.”

Briefing journalists after a visit to the affected communities in Sanga, Jema’a, and Kachia local government areas, the Chairman of the Committee and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Malam Sani Liman Kila, said thousands of people would need immediate assistance.

The Chief of Staff said the flood affected a bridge in Agom, Sanga Local Government area, cutting off five communities, just as the flood caused some houses to collapse in Nandu.

The Committee Chairman also noted that the recurrence of floods over the years had caused a deep gully which requires urgent attention in Kafannchan.

He said the committee identified narrow bridges, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, and erection of illegal structures on waterways as one of the major causes of flood.

While assuring that his committee will make appropriate recommendations to Governor Sani after its assignment, he called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to compliment the efforts of the state government by providing relief materials to victims of the flood disaster.

A flood victim, Murtala Muhammad of Kindaza Road, Kafanchan, said the flood became an annual occurrence in the area, noting that, their houses became inaccessible due to heavy downpours of rain.

Muhammad lamented that the hip of refuse in the community makes residents, especially children, vulnerable to diseases.

He called on the government to address the situation by evacuating the refuse to prevent floods in the community.