Election and flood crisis as 5000 persons displaced from ilushi and other part of nigeria

Horror came in the shape of suicide in one of the resettlement camps in Kogi State where two victims of the ravaging floods decided to take their own lives.  They could not bear the loss of properties.  Suicide they wrote.   In relief camps in Kogi, 20 people have already died.  The conditions are not the best. Two bags of rice for 2000 victims per day: How would it go round?

First it was the flood which ravaged Lokoja and parts of Kogi State that made the headlines just about three weeks ago.  Then came more reports of other incidents of flooding across the country!  Areas hitherto never imagined would be flooded started recording same in its most destructive forms.

In the reports below from Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Kwara and Niger States – nine states in all – it is one lamentation song after another.

In a part of Cross River State, there is even no dry land to bury the dead.  It is that bad.

From Minna, Niger State came the bizarre story that displaced people are lobbying to stay in camps because of free food and free medicare they enjoy for now.  The only thing that explains that is sheer poverty.  At a car washing centre, the owners of four state-of-the-Art cars watched their vehicles submerged by flood waters while they waited for the rains to subside.

In Anambra, it was so bad that by the time Governor Obi got back to where his convoy of cars was parked after inspecting some flooded communities, the water level had risen and the cars had to be moved farther; the governor needed to do the remainder of the trip on foot, inside the flood which got to waist level.

In Patigi, some of their leaders said they last saw this type of flooding over 70 years ago.

In Delta State, some elderly persons had to cling to trees to stay afloat and alive. President Goodluck Jonathan’s State, Bayelsa, though accustomed to flooding, witnessed a new form of deluge this year.  From the sky, vast lands submerged by water could be seen.  Even storey buildings were not spared.

In Benue State, all those on the banks of the River Benue woke up to discover that water had entered their houses.  Like a nightmare, a step on the floor from their beds was a step on water, some up to waist level.  “We woke up inside water”, one of the victims of the flooding lamented!

For the downstream parts of the country, the water levels will still rise as the dams in Cameroun would still be opened again for the release of water.  And with the rains, there would be more water from Futa Jalon where the Niger River is fed.  It might take few more weeks before the devastation engages another gear, especially for those in the Delta region.

What has been the emergency response?  Well, the best on offer is not good enough. Read the following horrific stories and make up your mind.

ANAMBRA STATE: Flood and Gov Obi’s cry for help

By Vincent Ujumadu

With the plethora of canoes now plying the areas, you could easily mistake this terrain for a pure riverine area.  But they are not.  These were once lands, with roads snaking through them. Today what you have is a ‘sea’.

Four local government areas in Anambra State – Ogbaru, Anambra West, Anambra East and Ayamelum – have virtually been submerged by flood that is ravaging the affected areas. It began in August this year with the flooding of farmlands in Anambra West and while the state government was making efforts to assist the victims, the misfortune affected three other council areas.

Governor Peter Obi had to suspend the Independence Day celebration to meander through the flooded Onitsha-Osomala road in Ogbaru and Nmiata road in Anambra West to supervise the evacuation of people trapped in their communities by the menacing flood.

The damage done by flood in the affected areas has been enormous. For instance, the entire Nzam, Aguleri Otu (where President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned the Orient Peterleum facility), Nmiata, Odekpe, Osomala, Osuche, Atani, Amii, Umuzu, among other communities in the state are now under water and properties worth billions of naira in the four local government areas destroyed.

Also, the Ogbaru Anglican Cathedral and the Catholic Church in Atani, the Divisional Police Station and the High Court and Magistrate Courts in the area, as well as secondary and primary schools have been totally submerged and canoes are plying there as if nothing existed in the area before the flood.

At the Ogbaru local government headquarters in Atani, the menacing flood pulled down the fence and flooded most of the offices, necessitating the evacuation of all government property. The affected churches had also removed all their property and the Bishop; Reverend Samuel Ezeofor had relocated his household to safe area.

Road sides, which served as refugee camps have also become flooded and it was only this development that made the refugees to agree to move into designated camps provided by government. After persuading the people to leave their properties and secure their lives first, Obi thereafter used canoe to reach other communities trapped across the River Niger. By the time he returned to continue his inspection, it was difficult coming out from Osamalla as flood had already covered the entire road though which he would leave. The governor and his team had to wade through the flood, which reached their waists to get to where the convoy of vehicles was parked.

At each of the communities – Akili-Ogidi, Akili-Ozizor, Amiyi, Atani, Mputu, Obeagwe, Ochuche, Odekpe, Ogbakuba, Ogwu-Aniocha, Agwuikpele, Ohita, Okpoko, Ossomala, Umunankwo, Umuodu, Umuzu – the governor explained to them  why they should be evacuated and promised them that government would continue to assist them till the flood is over and rehabilitate them thereafter. Many camps have been established and government has provided the basic necessities to ensure that epidemic did not break out. Some places were designated as cooking points from where food is distributed to the camps located at Aguleri, Onitsha, Umuleri, among other places.

Even part of the commercial city of Onitsha housing many blue ship companies are also affected by flood, especially Habour Industrial Area.  The governor had to wade through flood to visit all the affected factories. Some of the factories already submerged were Pokobros, Krisoral, Bororo pipes and profiling, among others.

THE senator representing Anambra South in the upper legislative chambers, Dr. Andy Uba, who also visited the affected areas, said the senate would allocate more funds in next year’s budget for disaster management in various parts of the country in view the devastation caused by flood.

He said that while they were in Abuja sympathizing with other states affected by the disaster, he never knew that the situation in his own Anambra State was the worst as several communities in the five riverine local government areas have totally been submerged. The senator donated about N1 million.

BAYELSA STATE: Even for the water people of Bayelsa, towns were sacked
By Samuel Oyadongha

This year’s flood in Bayelsa has been described as unprecedented in the last 50 years. Life has been literarily brought to a standstill in the riverside communities eighty per cent of which have been submerged by flood and the people racing against time to see what they could salvage.

For a state with the longest coastline in the country, measuring approximately 800 miles and lying below sea level, the pain of the people is understandable.

It is on record that aside the people being assailed annually by devastating flood leading to destruction of their means of livelihood (fishing and farmland) their communities on the Atlantic fringe are also being swallowed up gradually by the surging ocean.

While the state semi-diurnal tidal regime ensures two tidal floods and two low ebb tides within the course of each day, wave actions along the coastline results in both depletion and loss of sediments in the beaches.

Hence, flooding, which have been perennial, forces residents in the flood prune areas to flee their homes to distant upland areas from the riverbanks, creeks and waterways.

Virtually every part of the state is under water except Nembe and Brass council areas.

Unlike in other parts of the country, this phenomenon is a yearly ritual for the people whose means of livelihood is not only destroyed but are also subjected to health hazards associated with such disaster.

Ironically, it is this same water which the people defecate into that also serves as their drinking water with the result that water borne diseases are rampant during the flood season in the predominantly riverine state.

Sadly, this year’s occurrence has turned out to be the worst for the natives as hitherto upland areas used as shelter by those fleeing from surging flood have all been submerged, leaving in its trail pain and sorrow.

“We have been overwhelmed by this year’s flood, there is apprehension everywhere in the land as virtually all the communities considered to be safe haven and often used as transit camps pending the return of normalcy in the past are gradually being taken over by the scourge,” lamented Ebiowei Ayaowe.  In fact, some of the victims lamented “this is Armageddon”

Sunday Vanguard’s investigations revealed that the hardest hit segments of the population are not the just the fishermen and the conventional formal occupations but the farmers, palm wine tapers and distillers. Also, schools have temporarily shut down in the flood devastated communities where fishing activities have been grounded due to the enormous volume of water.

What could have been the harvest of farm produce in the impacted communities such as cassava, sugar cane, yams, plantain, rice and others have been lost to the flood.

A troubled Bayelsan, Elder John Obu, whose Biseni hometown is also under water, blamed the sad scenario in the lower river Niger on the changing global weather condition which according to him is impacting negatively on the already fragile environment of the area. Though flooding is a yearly occurrence here but the magnitude of the destruction being unleashed on our communities should be a source of concern to the authorities as we cannot continue to live like hunted animals.”

One of the foremost environmentalists in the Niger Delta and an indigene of the state, Alagoa Morris, while xraying the situation in the riverside communities said, “it is a battle for survival in these communities as the folks are left alone to combat the scourge.

“It is sad to observe that the federal government has not shown the political will to address the problems of the area once and for all. The federal government interventionist agency, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) established to address the developmental aspiration of the people, is being starved of funds thereby hampering its objective.”

BENUE STATE: We woke up inside water, victims lament
By Peter Duru

Never in the history of Benue State have the people been so devastated by flood water.

The devastation, to say the least, took the people unawares and this accounted for the magnitude of losses incurred by victims – most woke up one morning to discover that they were sitting in the middle of an angry River Benue that overflowed its banks.

From Katsina-Ala to Makurdi down to Otukpo and Agatu, it was all tales of woes by the victims of the devastation; and as at the last count, close to 10,000 houses, business places, huts and farmlands have been swept away or submerged by the raging flood.

Worst hit by the devastation were residences and houses along the banks of River Benue and most structures within ten kilometers radius of the River.

Some of the communities and towns badly hit by the rising flood waters included Otukpo, Agatu and Apa local government areas of the state while in Makurdi areas like Kucha Otebe, Gyado Villa, brick factories in Wadata and New Garage, the abattoir along the new Makurdi bridge, North bank and the highbrow Judges quarters where Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume and Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, have their residential houses, were ravaged.

Also threatened by the rising water levels were the main campus of the Benue State University and the newly constructed Benue University Teaching Hospital, the Regional Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG and the cooperate headquarters of state owned transportation company, Benue Links Nigeria, all in Makurdi.

The devastation also sacked majority of the students of the state owned Benue State University who moved out in droves after losing most of their books and house hold items to the flood.

One of the victims of the flood and final year student of Benue State University, Mr. John Itodo, told Sunday Vanguard that the flood took them unawares.

He said, “We actually noticed a sudden rise in water levels along the banks of River Benue but we felt it was normal given the torrential rains two days before; but to our surprise we woke up one morning to discover that our houses have been completely submerged by water flowing from the river”.

Recounting his loss, father of four, Mr. Romeo Dajoh, said he lost several of his household items but thanked God that he was able to escape with his family alive.

But as the victims continue to count their losses, the State government also moved to provide them some form of reprieve and succor; three displaced persons’ camps were immediately established to house the thousands of people who lost their homes to the deluge.

And as the number of the displaced families continued to swell, the state government increased the number of camps to four all of which were situated within the premises of schools located in High level, Wurukum and Wadata areas of Makurdi town.

Though the level of the devastation was beyond the scope of the state government, this bold initiative has also been accompanied with the provision of food and medications for the displaced with several donor agencies coming to the aid of the victims.

Members and officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and that of the Nigerian Red Cross Society have also been handy and helpful in ensuring that the displaced persons have access to good medicare and good food.

Benue State First Lady, Arc Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, was also on hand to extend assistance and aid to children, women and families in order to ameliorate their suffering.

Mrs. Suswam, who worked in tandem with officials of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, frequents the camps to ensure that they were managed efficiently while also moving relief materials, clothing, food, school scandals, books and other learning aid to the displaced persons in the four camps.

According to Mrs. Suswam during one of her visits to the camps, “we will continue to stand by you in this trying moments.  Rest assured that I share your pains and suffering as a result of this devastation.

Mrs. Suswam, who also organized a 52nd Independence Day Anniversary Celebration for children of the displaced persons in Makurdi, used the occasion to receive two newly born babies at the Wurukum camp where she promised to personally cater for the needs of the new babies and their mothers.

CROSS RIVER STATE: 178 communities, 79, 000 people, affected
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABOUT 79, 000 people have been displaced by natural disasters in the past nine months in Cross River State. Out of the number, more than half – 49, 918 – were displaced by flood as a result of the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

The flood affected 178 communities, killed 11 persons and destroyed 15 churches, 13 schools and 18 markets. The worst hit was Biase Local Government Area where 18 communities were sacked, 11 persons drowned, eight churches, six schools and nine markets destroyed.

The flood also displaced 26 communities from Ikom Local government Area and destroyed one school and two markets. In Odukpani Local government Area, 29 communities were displaced, while 34 communities were sacked by the flood in Ogoja Local Government Area with three churches, four schools and two markets destroyed.

In Obubra, 18 communities were rendered homeless, four churches, two schools and five markets destroyed, while the flood turned indigenes of 22 communities’ into refugees in their fatherland. Abi also was not left out as 13 communities were also displaced.

At Umon Island in Biase, a seven year old girl was killed, three declared missing while two were taken to hospital where they were receiving treatments following an overflow of the Cross River that swept away the community.

Among those receiving treatment at the community Health Centre, Umon who narrowly escaped death when their houses collapsed on them (but were lucky that the youths on vigilante exercise were around) are a 53 year old woman and a 78 year old man.

The corpses of the missing children feared drowned in their houses and apparently washed into the river were yet to be found despite the efforts made by the village divers searching for them so that they could be given befitting burial.

The family of the dead girl who had already been buried was yet to fully absorb the shock as they were seen mourning at the grave side.

In Umon Island alone over 40 houses with about 1,500 people while about 70% of the entire village with a population of 6,000 has been flooded, and movement between houses done either by wading through water which is at waist level or canoes.

A prominent Chief of the community Elder Okon Nya Aniyom, 78, while reacting to the disaster recalled that such catastrophe had occurred twice in his lifetime; 1971 and 1991 but that the magnitude could never be compared with what was happening.

In Calabar Municipality, over nine residential buildings were pulled down by gully erosion occasioned by the heavy flood, while about 15 others are highly vulnerable to collapsing along the Atimbo water channel.

The flood sacked 150 people from their homes. One of the victims, a widow who recently lost her husband to assassins in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Helena Akpabio, lamented that the section of her apartment where she was residing had collapsed with her household property. Mrs. Akpabio who was with a 3 month old child said that she had no place to go to and pleaded with the state government and philanthropic organizations to urgently come to her aid.

Delivering a paper at a workshop jointly organized by the State ministry of Information and the United Nation’s Children Fund, UNICEF, with the theme ‘Flooding and Climate Change Adaptation in Cross River State:  Safety measures for School Children.

 EDO STATE:River Niger creates 500,000 refugees, as  Dokpesi’s house submerges
By Simon Ebegbulem

Not less than 500,000 persons have become refugees in Edo State as a result of the ravaging flood problem caused by the over flow of the River Niger. The ravaging flood which has taken over 20 communities and destroyed virtually everything in the affected areas including, buildings, house hold properties and food crops in their farmlands.  At the Ekperi Grammar School, Ugbekpe Ekperi, there were over 60, 000 refugees from Yuluwa village, Ofukpo, Agbabu, Iguzi-Ofukpe, Udaba, Unudoboh, Udaba-Ogho, Anegette all in Etsako Central.

Families lost their homes also as in regards of political conflict which took place 12th April 2015 a day after the house of assembly election before the flood disaster, some names from the Ilushi axis of the state are as follows, Amiegbewor Anthony Mr. Fredrick Stephen, Theaophilus John, Mrs. rosemary jewere, Owobu cicilia, Marculey osaloboh, Agba Johnson, Abdullahi Azeez, Odide Anthony, Oghadeva Thomson, Oghadeva Hope, Barrister Mike Amiegbewor, Ozeba Zenahi, Mustafa Abdukareem, Zenabu Habeeb, Osaro Aigbe, Ataga Jerry and many more.

Mr. Mohammed explained that officials from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, had already visited some of affected areas and assessed the situation.
“At our own level we have submitted a comprehensive report to the state government for possible assistance to the victims of the disaster.
“I am happy to inform you that the government had recently approved N15.8 million for the purchase and distribution of relief materials to victims of the flood disaster in Albasu Local Government Area,” he said.
11 dead in Sokoto, Zamfara
From Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, NEMA confirmed the death of 11 persons as a result of flooding.
Thickman Tanimu , Deputy Head, Sokoto Zonal Operations Office of NEMA said 10 of the victims died in Zamfara, while a seven-year-old boy died at Kuchi village in Kebbe Local Government of Sokoto State.
Mr. Tanimu said that more than 86, 710 hectares valued N1.58 billion were destroyed in the three states.
According to him, a total of 20, 477 homes were also affected, rendering more than 46, 200 people homeless.
He said that the flood affected eight out of the 14 local government areas in Zamfara, which included Shinkafi, Talata Mafara, Gusau, Anka, Tsafe, Bungudu, Zurmi and Maradun.
The official explained that 8,540 houses and 6,450 hectares of farmland valued at N 260 million were destroyed in the affected areas in the state.
Mr. Tanimu further said that 11 out of the 23 local governments in Sokoto State were affected by the flood, while two communities in Wurno and Goronyo Local Governments were evacuated.
“The other local governments affected were Rabah, Kware, Binji, Kebbe, Gwadabawa, Wamakko, Bodinga, Sokoto North and Sokoto South.”
He added that, 24,750 people and 6, 922 houses were affected, with 42,800 hectares of farmlands worth N 750 million either totally destroyed or badly affected.
10 councils in Kebbi

In Kebbi state, the NEMA official said that 10 out of the 21 Local Governments were also affected by the disaster.
They were Argungu, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Kalgo, Dandi, Bagudo, Yauri, Danko Wasagu and Suru.
He disclosed that 21,450 people and 5,015 houses were affected, while 37,460 hectares of farmlands worth N 570 million were also destroyed.
According to him, two communities in Birnin Kebbi, namely Wabbako-Fulani and Wabbako-Hausa, have been submerged by the flood.
Mr. Tanimu said that the agency had provided food and other essential materials to assist the victims as part of the initial Federal Government’s intervention.
He attributed the high level of losses to the release of water from Bakalori and Goronyo dams located in Zamfara and Sokoto states respectively.
In Kaduna, 3 dead
In Kaduna State, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ezekiel Baba, confirmed the death of three people in Kachia Local Government Area of the state.
Bala the three persons died in August following a flood disaster which also destroyed several houses and crops.
“We have not had any major flood incident in Kaduna state this year.
“So far, the only areas affected by flood were Kachia, Soba and Kajuru local Government Areas, which was largely due to negligence on the part of the affected communities.
“Many of the affected communities are in the habit of dumping waste in drains,” he said.
He, however, said that the agency had been conducting series of enlightenment campaign to enlighten the public on the dangers of dumping refuse in drains.
“We have also warned the general public on a possible flood disaster, particularly communities living in flood-prone areas,” he added.
Similarly, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Ahmed Salihu, said that the ministry has assigned contractors to consistently desilt solid waste from drains.
“We have also educated and enlightened all Local Governments likely to be affected by the impending flood based on NIMET’s prediction to be prepared just in case the flood becomes a reality,” he said.
However, NEMA’s North-West Zonal Coordinator, Musa Illalah, attributed the occurrences of flooding partly to disregard to building regulations by the people.
According to him, building houses on water ways predisposes communities to flooding.
Meanwhile, Mahmood Shehu, Director, Disaster Management, Kaduna State Environmental Management Agency, said that the state government had embarked on the enforcement of public health and environmental standard laws.
He explained that the measure was to check careless attitude of residents to environmental laws as part of efforts to avert reoccurrence of flooding in the state.
The director equally said that adequate measures are being taken on risk assessment, planning, early warnings, information management and communication to curb avoidable disasters.
3 dead in Katsina
In Katsina State, three persons died and more than 3, 620 people were displaced by flood during the year.
Ibrahim Abdulkarim, the Acting Executive Director, State Emergency Management Agency, said that the flood disasters were recorded in 15 Local Government Areas of the state.
He listed the councils affected as Baure, Bindawa, Charanchi, Daura, Dutsi and Dandume.
Others were Ingawa, Kusada, Katsina, Malumfashi, Matazu, Mai’adua, Musawa, Sandamu and Zango.
He revealed that the state government had established an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps for victims in the affected areas.
According to him, NEMA has also awarded contract for a permanent IDPs camp in Katsina metropolis at the cost of N156 million.
He said that the project, which was under the Presidential Committee on Flooding Disaster, Relief and Rehabilitation, has reached over 75 per cent completion.
Mr. Abdulkarim also said that committee had drilled 10 solar boreholes in flood prone areas, to avoid outbreak of diseases.
He further added that NEMA had distributed 11 trucks loaded with relief materials to the flood victims.
The director said that the agency was enlightening the populace against building on waterways and dumping refuse in the drains.
Abdulkarim further stated that ecological committees had been constituted in all the 34 Local Government Areas of the state to mobilise residents on safe sanitation and environmental habits to avert flood disaster.
The director advised the Katsina State Government to amend existing environmental and sanitation laws to conform to the present realities.
“Some of the punishments contained in the laws are too light to the extent that the offenders will not feel the impact,” he said.
11 killed in Bauchi
In Bauchi, the Secretary, State Humanitarian Coordination Team (SHCT), Abubakar Umar, said no fewer than 11 persons lost their lives, with 11,708 houses and 104,147 farmlands destroyed by flood in 2015.
Mr. Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria in Bauchi that value of the property destroyed was about N1.5 billion.
He said that 88 communities and 105 villages in 18 out of the 20 local government areas of the state were affected.
Mr. Umar said the state government spent N12.75 million in ameliorating the hardship of victims affected.
Abubakar Ibrahim, a farmer in Darazo town, said the flood that occurred in July, caused serious destruction of farmlands and animals.
He said that the state government had promised to assist the victims, but added that they were yet to receive anything.
Another victim, Danmmusa Ahmed, who lost his house and birds to the flood in Toro Local Government Area, said they were yet to receive any assistance.
“The committee assured us that the government would assist, but nothing has come to me yet,” he lamented.
Jigawa: 4 killed, property destroyed
In Jigawa, Governor Muhammad Badaru said that about 223,000 farmlands were destroyed by flood in all 27 Local Government Areas of the state.
He said that the state government had sought for assistance from the Federal Government to ameliorate the hardship being faced by the victims.
“I spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency on telephone, to intimate them on the situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, NEMA said four people had died in flood that wrecked seven Local Government Areas of Jigawa recently.
The NEMA Zonal Coordinator for North-West zone, Musa Ilallah, said in Dutse that the agency had carried out an assessment tour to the affected council areas to take stock of items destroyed.
He said that the team from the agency visited Guri, Kirikasama, Malammadori, Auyo, Jahun, Kiyawa and Birninkudu, Local Government Areas.
He appealed to state government to increase funding to the state emergency management agency.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Birninkudu Local Government Council in Jigawa, Khalid Ibrahim, said that the council spent N4.1 million on relief materials distributed to victims of flood in Babaldu village.
Mr. Ibrahim said that the local government council had taken measures to clear drains to prevent reoccurrence of flood in the area.
Similarly, Chairman of Kiyawa Local Government Area in the state, Nasiru Ahmed, said that five children were killed and 10,000 farmlands destroyed in a recent flood disaster that ravaged the area.
He also said that two major roads from Dutse to Katanga and Kiyawa and Birninkudu, were cut off, making vehicular and human movement, difficult during the period.
3 killed in Gombe
The Head of Operations of NEMA, Gombe office, Minin Sa’idu, told NAN that the flooding that affected the five Local government areas resulted in the death of three persons and destruction of 122 houses.
Mr. Sa’idu said NEMA would forward its report to the appropriate authorities for assistance to be rendered to the victims.
Adamu Pukuma, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Environment and Forest Resources, Gombe State, described the condition of the victims as ‘pathetic’.
He blamed the people in the habit of dumping waste in drains, saying that this had affected free flow of water in the area.
He also observed that some culverts were initially designed as single cell, but following the change in rain pattern, the culverts could no longer contain the volume of water passing through them.
Yobe too
In Yobe, nine out of the 17 local government areas were badly affected by floods, which destroyed houses, farmlands and livestock.
NAN reports that communities in Nangere, Fune, Potiskum, Bade, Jakusko, Nguru, Tarmuwa, Bursari and Damaturu were affected by the floods.
Adamu Alabura, Chairman of Nangere Local Government Council, said that in his area, about 330 houses in nine villages, including the council headquarters, were destroyed by floods.
“Many farmlands in the affected areas were swept away or submerged, along with livestock,” he said.
Few of the people in the communities claimed that alternative lands given to them to relocate long ago were grossly inadequate.
Usman Baba, a victim in Ngelzarma, Fune Local Government Area, said an alternative land was given out some 50 years ago and already been occupied.
Kawu Bakari, another victim in Jajere, said the waters came from the uplands, submerging their houses and farmlands.
Five killed in Adamawa
In Adamawa, Haruna Furo, the Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed that five people, among them, a nursing mother and her infant, lost their lives as a result of flood.
He said that over 120 communities in ten local government areas were affected by the flood.
Mr. Furo explained that the water from Kiri dam and other small rivers in the area led to the flooding.
Speaking on the gradual release of water from Lagdo Dam, Mr. Furo said that SEMA and other sister agencies were monitoring the level of the water to avert repeat of disasters experienced in the past.
He said that the agency was still compiling the list of people affected, while over 30,000 had so far been registered.

S.S Bello ESQ    Contact the author of the petition