File photo of floodThe executive secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sani Yusuf, has confirmed that flood has claimed the lives of 50 persons while many people are displaced.
Speaking to news men today, August 14, Alhaji Yusuf, said that the flood destroyed thousands of homes in the state, adding that the situation forced Jigawa residents to take refuge in other places, which include government buildings.
He said that the state government accommodated many displaced persons in 11 temporary camps.
Alhaji Yusuf said that some of the victims are from Balangu village where no fewer than 237 houses were destroyed with four people dead.
“We have so many displaced persons about 11 temporary camps. In Balangu alone 237 houses have been damaged and they are now living in a temporary camp.
“Four people also died in that same village, after the six in Kafin Hausa. So, when you go around the state we lost about 50 people to the flood now. Even yesterday, seven people from the same family died.”
He said that as part of the Federal Government’s intervention efforts, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar, visited the North-Western state to distribute relief materials.
The minister was in the state alongside the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib, to provide succour to the victims.
Sadiya Umar said that she was in the stateon the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, to provide the necessary support to the flood-ravaged victims.
“This incident is particularly sad because it has become perennial. This is causing serious damage to schools, houses, and the livelihood of the people.
“Upon receiving this unfortunate news, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to activate the National Emergency Management Agency to respond and provide the necessary support to the affected persons.”
The Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar, commended the Federal Government for what he describes as a quick response to the incident.
He lamented that the flood has caused so much trauma to the victims, expressing the hope that the government’s intervention will cushion the effect on the people.
“The latest incident happened four to five days ago and already relief materials are on the ground. We have seen the kind of support we received during the COVID-19 pandemic and all afflictions.”
