A flooded area
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has confirmed that 16 people have died while over 2,000 houses have been destroyed by floods across Bauchi state this year.
The Permanent Secretary, SEMA, Shehu Habu Ningi, stated this in an interview with our Correspondent in his office on Friday.
He said that over 1,100 farmlands were also destroyed by the floods which ravaged 11 communities in 11 local government areas of Bauchi state.
He said: “We’ve visited all the areas involved in the flooding this year. So far, we received 11 reports in 11 local government areas in the state.
“So far, 16 persons lost their lives, 11 in Bauchi local government area during a disaster of canoe that capsized some months back. We have one case in Warji LGA, two in Shira LGA, two in Jalam, Dambam LGA.
“We have over 2,000 houses were destroyed during the flood. Over 1,117 farmlands that were washed away by the flood.
“Almost all the LGAs affected, the state government has assisted the victims with immediate relief to cushion the effects of the flood.
“Only three LGAs that we are still awaiting His Excellency’s approval of the immediate relief assistance to them.”
He denied reports that many more people have died across the state pointing out, however, that those injured may have died after the agency’s assessment.
“Maybe they died after our assessment team visited the area but during our assessment, we had only three people in that LGA. During our on the spot assessment, we found out that only three had died.
“According to our records, only 16 had died but, I don’t know, maybe, others died later on because we had some who were injured. So, maybe some of them died later on.
He advised that people should desist from building houses along waterways and avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse on drainages.
“Since the flood is yearly, they should relocate to higher grounds to avoid being victims of the floods,” Ningi added.