The Executive Secretary of Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, Mohammed Goje has confirmed the destruction of over 320 houses in a fresh flood at Ngelzarma village in Fune Local Government of the state.
The Executive Secretary has also informed that his teams of enumerators are still on ground for the assessment, stressing that the figure may increase.
According to him, the impact of destruction at Ngelzarma flood is far worse than what took place at Ngalda last week, where over 300 houses including farmlands were also washed away.
Ngelzarma town is situated is a valley which makes it vulnerable to perennial flooding but the residents have refused government advice to resettle at the upland claiming ancestral affinity to settlements of the forefathers.
Investigation revealed that the people rather preferred to be inconvenienced by the annual flood than relocate from their ancestral plots of land to another area for safety.
One of the residents Adamu Ngelzarma informed that, โOur historical and ancestral connection on this land cannot be destroyed by anything. We will continue to be here no matter what happens to usโ.
The State Deputy Gov. Idi Barde Gubana has paid a sympathy visit to the village and commiserated with the people.
Gubana who regretted that the problem of flood in the village has been on since 1976, said the state government will set up a stakeholders committee to advice government on the long term solution of the problem.
He directed SEMA to supply 150 bags of rice 50 gallon of oil as immediate relief to the victims
