No fewer than 4,167 houses and farmlands were destroyed by flood in Gombe and Yobe states.
The Gombe State Emergency Management Agency has said at least 2,517 houses and shops were destroyed by flood which ravaged 33 communities in the state.
This was just as the Executive Secretary of Yobo State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Mohammed Goje, said 1,650 houses were destroyed in Jajere and Yunusari towns of the state.
The Deputy Director, Relief and Rehabilitation of Gombe SEMA, Mr Ibrahim Nalado, an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday, said communities affected by the flood were in Dukku, Funakaye and Billiri local government areas of the state.
According to him, the areas were flooded due to heavy downpour that occurred between August 12 and August 22 this year.
He said, “In Dukku LGA, 10 communities were affected. In Funakaye LGA, 20 communities were affected and in Billiri LGA, three communities were affected.”
Nalado said that the flooding and windstorm affected mostly houses and a few farmlands in the communities.
He said that there was no loss of life but two children were injured in Dukku, including seven animals that were washed away.
In Yobe, Goje said a total of 413 households in the areas were displaced by the latest flash flood.
Goje said that a final assessment of the destruction caused by yet another flood in Yusufari, Wagir, Mutai Chirokusko, Bade and Potiskum towns was ongoing.
He said arrangements had reached advanced stage to deliver relief materials to the affected communities in the next 24 to 48 hours as directed by Gov Mai Mala Buni.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Government has announced the establishment of Flood Control Team across all the 168 wards of the state, in a bid to tackle the impending effects of flood as the Republic of Cameroon is set to release water from Lagdo Dam.
Governor Agbu Kefas, who disclosed this at a media interaction with journalists at Government House in Jalingo, on Saturday, said the flood control team will also focus on emergency management and proactive measures to prevent future disasters in the state.
Kefas said, “Our state is facing significant challenges due to flooding, affecting the lives and livelihoods of many of our citizens. In response, we are committed to finding lasting solutions to these challenges, working closely with experts and communities to mitigate the impact of flooding on our people.
“As part of our broader economic empowerment and infrastructure development, the Taraba Development Master Plan 2023-2050, have laid out a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development.
“Our efforts to complete legacy road projects in the state are aimed at boosting economic activities, creating jobs, and reducing poverty across our state.
In another development, the Anambra State government advised residents living in flood-prone local government areas and communities to evacuate their crops, poultry, fish ponds and domestic animals to safe places to avoid being caught unawares by flooding.
The advice came ahead of impending flooding attributed to the rising water levels of the River Niger and coming released of Lagdo Dam by Cameroon and upstream activities from Niger Republic and Mali.
Commissioner for Information in the state, Paul Nwosu, gave the advice in a video being circulated on various social media platforms, on Saturday.
Nwosu listed high risk local government areas to include Ogbaru, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Onitsha South, Onitsha North, Awka North, Idemili South, Ekwusigo and Ihiala.
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that residents of communities in the riverine areas and along the River Niger plains have been leaving the areas due to the rising water level of the River.
The traditional ruler of Omor Community in Ayamelum local government, Igwe Chidume, said, “We are advising our people living in the flood-prone farm settlements to move to higher ground immediately.
“We have also advised them to begin harvesting their crops promptly to avoid being caught off guard.”
A resident of Ogbaru local government, Nkechi Eche, said, “We in Ogbaru are predominantly farmers, so, we have started harvesting some of our crops. Poultry and livestock farmers have been relocating their birds and other domestic animals to avoid destruction.”
