By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
No fewer than five persons have been killed after their canoe capsized at a river in Jama’are Town in Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The Member representing Jama’are Constituency, Saleh Muhammad, who disclosed this in a motion he moved on the floor of the Bauchi State House of Assembly during plenary, did not give full details but said this was as a result of a heavy rainfall and windstorm in the area.
Abdul Burra, the spokesperson of the Speaker of the House, Abubakar Suleiman, told our correspondent that Muhammad, while leading the debate on the motion, lamented the devastation caused by floods in the local government.
He revealed that no fewer than 500 houses were destroyed and about 1,000 families had been displaced.
He said that the displaced families are now taking shelter in schools, government buildings, mosques and neighbouring villages adding that 60,000 hectares of farmlands of various crops valued at several millions of Naira were destroyed during the incident.
He called on the House to urge the state government to come to the aid of the victims of the flood that devastated Jama’are and its surroundings.
The lawmaker said: “Jama’are town and its surrounding villages had been hit by a very devastating flood that rendered several people homeless. The flood is estimated to have destroyed over 500 houses and displaced about 1,000 families. It also ravaged more than 60,000 hectares of farmlands and destroyed farm produced estimated at several hundreds of millions of Naira.
“It is disheartening to Inform you that, hundreds of houses and several hectares of farmlands of the following villages were destroyed by the recent flooding and their residents are currently seeking shelter at public schools, government buildings mosques and neighboring villages: Yola, Dakodako, Gongo, Gilar, Sabongari, Jogayel, Jabbori, Bodinga, Guda among others are disconnected Jama’are town amongst others.
“These villages have been disconnected from Jama’are town, there is no access road leading to the local government headquarters, all the culverts have been broken down, eroded and taken away by the flood.
“Equally, no fewer than five persons reportedly lost their lives when a canoe capsized as a result of heavy rains and windstorm in Jama’are town. The flood damaged countless infrastructure and cut many roads.
“It is on record that, Jama’are Local Government Area is increasingly experiencing annual flooding during the rainy season. The town is the most vulnerable to flooding perhaps due to the presence of a river in the area. There is too much water in the river and the flow capacity becomes overwhelmed and it bursts its banks which creates havoc to the people of area.”
Muhammad said the recent flood did not only endangered the lives of humans and animals alone but also bring about outbreak of diseases such as cholera and malaria.
He urged the lawmakers to resolve that the State Government should come to the aid people of Jama’are Constituency who are grossly affected by flood incidents by providing relief materials while the Committee of Special Duties should be mandated to visit, sympathize and condole with the victims and families of those that lost their lives in the capsized canoe, on behalf of the Assembly.
He added that the State Government should seek the intervention of relevant Federal Government agencies with a view to intervening on the matter.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Colleagues, it is imperative to note that, the recent floods did not only damage properties and endangered the lives of humans and animals but also produced other secondary effects like outbreak of diseases such as cholera and malaria. Hence the need for the appropriate authorities to take proactive measures in addressing floods and its associated impacts,” he stated.
Responding, the Speaker who presided over the plenary said that the motion required no further debate since Members had already discussed similar matters on flooding.
The Honourable House then unanimously adopted the motion.
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