The overseeing Director-General of Niger Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Salihu Garba has said that five communities have been displaced, houses and farmlands submerged by flood in Niger state.
Garba stated this while giving update on the current flood situation in the state.
He said that the agency had received reports of flood incidents from 11 local government areas of the state.
“The local government areas are, Mokwa, Lavun, Edati, Gbako, Lapai, Agaie, Katcha, Magama, Rijau, Mariga and Chanchaga.
“The flood incidents are in various degrees, in some areas, houses have been submerged while in some, farmlands washed away and in some areas like Mokwa, five communities displaced,” he said.
Garba said that Mariga and Kontagora local areas had experienced violent wind which resulted to destruction of houses and death of a minor in Rafin-Gora area of Kontagora.
He said that there was also an upsurge of banditry attacks within the wet season in Mariga and Munya, which had prevented farmers from engaging in farming activities.
He said that two persons lost their lives as a result of bandit attacks in Mariga and about 60 people kidnapped with over 1,000 persons displaced.
Garba said that one person was killed with over 500 displaced in Munya, adding that those displaced from Mariga, were taking refuge in Bangi primary school.
Garba said the state government was concerned over the upsurge of banditry activities during the wet season, adding it was a threat to food security in the country.
He said that Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger directed the agency to carry out an assessment of the affected communities, in order to mitigate the effect on the economy.
Garba said that early warning system yielded result in saving lives, adding that the agency was working assiduously with comprehensive assessment list for short time relief measures for people displaced by flood.
