By Kalmana Afsa, Bauchi
Floods in 11 of the 20 local government areas of Bauchi state have killed at least 10 people, submerged thousands of hectares of farmlands and houses.
The affected local government areas include Jamaare, Giade, Misau Dambam, Zaki, Darazo, Kirfi, Itas-Gadau, Shira Gamawa, Toro, Ningi and Misau.
ASHENEWS reports that 12 of the affected 19 local government areas were worst hit.
The Director, Planning Research and Statistics at the State Emergency management Agency (SEMA), Adamu Nayola who spoke with newsmen immediately after inspecting the level of damage in some villages of Jamaare local government area, said some villages have completely been cutoff for other parts of the state.
According to him, “the heavy downpour has left at least 10 people dead in different locations and rendered many residents homeless and farmlands washed away.”
Nayola called on the federal government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and philanthropists, to come to the aid of these victims, noting that the level of destruction of farmlands could lead to food insecurity.
The Emir of Jamaare, Nuhu Ahmed Wabi and Deputy Chairman Jamaare local government, Iliyasu Shuaibu called on the federal and state governments to come to their aid, describing the floods as the worst experienced in almost 50 years.
According to Shuaibu, Tola and Gongo villages have completely been cutoff with residents using canoe which is paddled manually and not safe.
