Six Northern Nigerian states flooded

By Eromo Egbejule,
WorldNewsVine, Nigeria

Nigeria (Sept 02) – An undisclosed number of people have been killed by flood in several states of northern Nigeria where unusually heavy rains have swollen rivers and streams across the region in the last two weeks. Whole villages and farmlands in Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, and Kebbi states have been submerged.

Last Tuesday, an executive member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State, Surajo Audu, drowned while crossing a river to his village, Gwanamarde, from Yammama after a heavy rainfall. The councillor representing the late Mr. Audu’s ward, Mainasara Abubakar, who confirmed the deaths on Thursday, added that dozens of houses collapsed as a result of the inundation. Elsewhere, a woman identified as Lubabatu Umar from Kurmin-Sarki village and a two-year-old child were also killed when a house collapsed on them.

The flood overran villages in about seven states, with increasing number of deaths and loss of cattle reported across the region, and thousands of people displaced. Although flooding has become more or less an annual environmental disaster for the region in recent years, especially during the peak of the rainy season, this year has recorded some of the worst cases. Dutsema Local Government Area (LGA), which is the largest LGA in Kastina State, has recorded over 1700 displaced people. The rainfall also destroyed hundreds of houses.

Thousands of people were also displaced following the flood, which swept through Goronyo local government of Sokoto State, while more than 2,000 houses were destroyed in the four villages of Kagara, Boye Kai, Balla and Giyawa. Property worth millions of naira was lost to the rising waters. In addition, farm produce and farmlands were washed away.

The governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko, yesterday ordered the immediate release of N200 million for the rehabilitation of victims of the flood disaster in the state. Mr Wamakko, who spoke while on a visit to the victims of the flood disaster in four villages in Goronyo, also promised more support for the victims. He said another N30 million will be released to the council for the purchase of essential commodities for the victims.

Posted by Egbejule Eromo on September 3, 2010. Filed under Breaking News,Headline News - Africa,Health and Living - Africa,Human Interest - Africa,International World News with Henry Hunter,News - Africa,Nigeria,Western Africa,WorldNewsVine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.