Twelve persons have died in a flood, which also destroyed farmlands in Ganjuwa and Giade Local Governments in Bauchi State.
Deputy Director of Needs Assessment, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Musa Ladan, who spoke yesterday, said “the flood killed four in Galamakira and Galam Baba communities in Miya district of Ganjuwa council – three children returning home after bathing in the rain when the culvert they stepped on caved in.
“One body was recovered immediately while the others were recovered the following day.
“The fourth victim was a 65-year-old farmer, Alhaji Danladi, whose house collapsed due to the magnitude of the wind.
“Eight others also died in Gulbuk, Giade Local Government.”
SEMA’s Permanent Secretary Aliyu Abba Ahamad said SEMA’s team visited the affected communities to commiserate with victims and assess the damage.
Village heads of Galamakira and Galam Baba, Saleh Adamu and Ahmed Iliyasu, appealed to the government to build more primary health care centres to provide emergency services to the people.
Four persons died in the flood that sacked 23 communities in Lapai Local Government of Niger State, following an eight-hour downpour.
The affected communities include Cheku, Lambata Kwaran, Cheppa, Alaba, Bina Muye, Ebbo, Egba, Gagbe, Tanna, Bazhi and Yelwa.
Worship centres, roads and bridges were washed away in Shiroro, Muyan, Gurara and Bida, Lavun, Wushishi, Mokwa and Borgu councils.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who visited the communities, called for the Federal Government’s intervention to address the ecological challenges.
According to him, the financial outlay to tackle ecological challenges is not only enormous, but beyond the state.
“Solutions to the ecological devastation is beyond the state. I have spoken to the President about our challenges and the need for the Federal Government’s intervention.
“As a government, we sympathise with the communities and we will give our support to reduce their hardship, despite the lean resources of the state. The State Emergency Management Authority (SEMA) will come to their aid,” Bello said.
At Muye town, the governor directed Chairman of Lapai council, Usman Achitupa, to ensure that people living by the banks of River Gurara are relocated upland to prevent a recurrence.
Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, with Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday visited the flood victims in Tudu village and neighbouring communities in Dange/Shuni council, with a promise to rebuild their homes.
Tambuwal said SEMA will conduct a full assessment of items destroyed to enable government assist the victims.
The disaster, caused by incessant rain and rising water level, left more than 100 homes destroyed.
Tambuwal hinted that the government sent in emergency relief items to the area, and prayed that such will not be experienced again.
The governor also inspected the Isa-Marnona highway, promising that his administration will fix the damaged section of the road.