Floods ravage 33 communities in North, destroy 4,167 houses, farmlands

Severe flooding has wreaked havoc in several northern states, displacing thousands and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

Reports indicate that no fewer than 4,167 houses and farmlands have been destroyed in Gombe and Yobe states.

According to the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, floods ravaged 33 communities in the state, destroying at least 2,517 houses and shops.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, Mohammed Goje, reported that 1,650 houses in the state’s Jajere and Yunusari towns had been destroyed.

Deputy Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of Gombe SEMA, Ibrahim Nalado, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday that the affected communities were in Dukku, Funakaye, and Billiri local government areas of the state.

Nalado said the flooding resulted from heavy downpours that occurred between August 12 and August 22 this year.

He stated that in Dukku LGA, 10 communities were affected, while in Funakaye LGA, 20 communities were affected, and in Billiri LGA, three communities were affected.

Nalado added that the flooding and windstorm mostly affected houses and a few farmlands, noting that there was no loss of life but that two children were injured in Dukku, and seven animals were washed away.

In Yobe, Goje said a total of 413 households were displaced by the latest flash flood, and a final assessment of the destruction caused by another flood in Yusufari, Wagir, Mutai, Chirokusko, Bade, and Potiskum towns was ongoing.

Goje said arrangements were at an advanced stage to deliver relief materials to the affected communities in the next 24 to 48 hours, as directed by Governor Mai Mala Buni.

In response to the impending effects of the flood, the Taraba State Government has announced the establishment of a Flood Control Team across all 168 wards of the state in a bid to tackle the impending effects of the flood, as the Republic of Cameroon is set to release water from the Lagdo Dam.

“Our state is facing significant challenges due to flooding, affecting the lives and livelihoods of many of our citizens. In response, we are committed to finding lasting solutions to these challenges, working closely with experts and communities to mitigate the impact of flooding on our people,” Governor Agbu Kefas said.

Kefas stated that the flood control team would also focus on emergency management and proactive measures to prevent future disasters in the state.

“As part of our broader economic empowerment and infrastructure development, the Taraba Development Master Plan 2023-2050 has laid out a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development,” he added.