Though weather forecasts by NIMet and other related agencies have predicted more torrential rain throughout the month of September in Bauchi State, statistics obtained has revealed that as of Friday, 11th of September, flooding across the state has killed no fewer than 16 people while close to 3,000 houses have been destroyed just as several hectares of farmlands were washed away.
The preliminary statistics were made available to our correspondent by the office of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) which said that investigations and information gathering are still on to ascertain the actual figure affected by the disaster considering the fact that some of the affected settlements are hard to reach.
Making the statistics available, the Permanent Secretary of SEMA, Shehu Habu Ningi, said that several communities in 11 LGAs were affected with Shira, Giade, Kirfi, Dambam, Warji, Zaki LGA as the worst hit by the disaster.
While saying that some more of those injured must have died after the agency’s on the spot assessment, efforts are still on to get a near-accurate record for effective relief distribution.
ALSO READ:Â 30 firms to generate 800MW of electricity for BEDC, kick off service-based tariff
Shehu Habu Ningi also said that: “We have 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 a canoe that capsized some months back. We have one case in Warji LGA, two in Shira LGA, two in Jalam, Dambam LGA.”
The SEMA PS added that “We have it on record that 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, however, denied reports in some sections of the media that over 20 people had died in the flood this year saying, “Maybe they died after our assessment team had visited the areas 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.”
He further explained that “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.”
Habu Ningi then advised that people should desist from building houses along waterways and avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the drainages saying that: “Since the flood is yearly, they should relocate to higher grounds to avoid being victims of the floods.”
Worried by the devastating effects of the flood, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir had visited Warji LGA one of the worst-hit where he sympathized with the victims and promised that his administration will collaborate with international disaster management agencies to bring relief to them.
The Governor also declared that the government will do everything humanly possible to take steps that will solve the problem of yearly flooding across the state advising the people however to be cautious during the wet season.
It will be recalled that the State House of Assembly had directed the state government to immediately come to the aid of the affected communities across the state ravaged by the flooding lamenting what is described as poor response to disaster situation by the SEMA.
The Assembly then summoned the Secretary to the State Government and other disaster management agencies to appear before it to explain what they are doing to bring succour to the affected victims of the disaster.
Last week, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management visited Bauchi State to sympathize with the state government as well as donate COVID-19 pandemic palliative items to the flood disaster victims as a relief measure from the Federal Government.