Four Lives Lost in Bauchi Floods

The Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that four individuals have lost their lives due to ongoing floods affecting several communities in the state.

Mas’ud Aliyu, the Director General of the agency, shared this information in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

He explained that the fatalities occurred in flood-stricken communities within Shira, Giade, and Katagum Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.

"Giade, Katagum, and Shira Local Governments are the most affected by the flood," Aliyu stated.

In response to the disaster, the state government dispatched a delegation led by the Secretary to the State Government, along with Commissioners from the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Housing and Environment, and Finance, as well as the Director General of SEMA, to assess the affected areas.

Aliyu added that extensive farmlands in the three local governments have been submerged by the flood.

"The flood has destroyed numerous homes. In Giade, while there has been no loss of life, farms, animals, and other domestic assets have been affected.

"In Shira, farms have been lost, houses destroyed, and three lives lost. In Katagum Local Government, farmlands, houses, and one life have been lost," he continued.

He also mentioned the destruction caused by the flood, including a damaged bridge that has left travelers stranded.

"In Katagum, a road has been cut off on the way to Bulkachuwa, and another road from Azare to Jama’are. Similarly, two roads have collapsed: one from Azare to Giade and another from Shira to Azare, which may be cut off at any moment," Aliyu said.

He reiterated that thousands of hectares of farmland have been submerged by the flood.

The SEMA Director urged residents living in waterways to vacate their homes, as there are more threats of flooding in many areas.

"All those in waterways and areas with a history of flooding should do themselves a favor and vacate their homes," the DG emphasized.

Our correspondent learned from Musa Azare, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Katagum Local Government Area, that a community, Sabon Gari, on the outskirts of Azare town, was completely submerged by the floods.

He highlighted that a total of thirty-five communities across the local government were affected by the floods. The Chairman also acknowledged the donation of food items and other domestic supplies by the state government to the affected communities.

"The villages have been completely submerged. There is not a single household that has not been affected. We evacuated everyone from the village to nearby government quarters, with the approval of Governor Bala Mohammed.

"We are still assessing the damage done by the floods and are working with the State and National Emergency Management Agencies," Azare added.

The Caretaker Chairmen of the Shira and Giade Local Government Areas also spoke about the devastating impact of the flood.

They lamented that the flood has submerged entire communities, forcing displaced persons to seek temporary resettlement in centers.

Similarly, the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, urged the victims to accept the situation as part of their destiny.

Kashim advised them to heed the warnings of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency regarding flood alerts.

Source News

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