Over 90 persons have been confirmed dead following the torrential rainfall that ravaged about 12 Local Government Areas in the State, with over 2000 families homeless and 100,000 houses dilapidated and properties worth over N1 Billion were destroyed. According to the state police command, most of the dead were killed by drowning, thunderstorms and collapsed buildings.
The Executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Yusuf Sani Babura said the death toll from the flood may increase, adding that the officials of the Agency are still working in the affected areas across the state.
Describing this year’s flood the worse in recent years, the E.S said the number of communities affected by the flood has also increased though the number is yet to be ascertained.
He said the flood destroyed over 100,000 houses and displaced at least 150,000 people across the affected LGAs in the state.
He explained that some of the displaced people are taking refuge in 49 Internally Displaced camps in the state provided by the State Government, while some are staying in relatively safer communities with their relatives.
About farmlands, roads and other infrastructures in the affected areas, the E.S said the Agency is still assessing the damages done, but he added that the destruction recorded this year is enormous.
However, the state government, he said, has been responsive, explaining that the Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar had provided food items, mats mattresses, blankets and other materials to reduce the plights of the victims.
The E.S added that the badly affected LGAs are Ringim, Auyo, Birnin Kudu, kafin Hausa, Hadeija, Guri, Malam-maduri, Kiyawa and the State Capital Dutse.
In a related development, 15 persons have also been confirmed dead in a canoe mishap in the state. The canoe was said to have capsized following the heavy flow of water in the river which made the boat to lose control and submerged.