No fewer than 585 houses have been washed away in seven towns of Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The Chairman of the local government council, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jelani, told news men in Wurno town, headquarters of the local government that the tragedy occurred as a result of a late night heavy downpour which lasted up to the wee hours of Saturday.
He listed the affected towns as Wurno, Laka, Barayar Zaki, Tambogarkar Daji,Koliyal Kwargaba and Tunga.
“The problem was aggravated by the blockage of some drainage in the affected town and their environs.”
The chairman said that those who lost their houses to the flood are now squatting with neighbours, relatives and other good Samaritans.
Jelani said that although there was no loss of any lives, but that the flood destroyed many farm produce believed to be worth millions of naira.
They include onions, garlic, rice, wheat and beans. Several farmlands were submerged.
Jelani said that the local government has set up a 13-man committee to find out the remote and immediate causes of the disaster.
“It will also assess the extent of damage caused by the flood as well as recommend the form of assistance to be rendered to the victims. I am also appealing to the state government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other donor agencies to come to the immediate aid of the victims.”
Another flood tragedy which occurred the previous week, destroyed no fewer than 52 houses in Wurno town, although there was no loss of life. [myad]
