The Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency has verified four deaths as floods continue to ravage certain towns in the state.
The agency’s Director General, Mas’ud Aliyu, verified this in an exclusive chat with our correspondent on Tuesday.
He explained that the four deaths occurred in flood-ravaged areas in Bauchi’s Shira, Giade, and Katagum Local Government Areas.
“Giade, Katagum, and Shira Local Governments are the LGs most affected by the flood.
“This has led to the Bauchi state government sending a delegation under the leadership of the Secretary to the State Government, along with the Commissioners of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Housing and Environment, and Finance, as well as the Director General of SEMA, to assess the affected areas.”
“The flood has destroyed many people’s houses. In Giade, there has been no loss of life, but farms, animals, and other domestic assets have been affected.
“In Shira, farms have been lost, houses destroyed, and three lives lost. In Katagum Local Government, farmlands, houses, and one life have been lost,” he continued.
He also stated the destruction caused by the flood, including a damaged bridge that has left travellers stranded.
Mas’ud said, “In Katagum, a road has been cut off on the way to Bulkachuwa, and another road from Azare to Jama’are. Similarly, two roads have collapsed: one from Azare to Giade and another from Shira to Azare, which may be cut off at any moment.”
He underlined that the water had submerged thousands of hectares of agriculture.
The Bauchi state SEMA Director asked people of the state who live near waterways to evacuate their homes, as several locations face increased flooding risks.
“All those in waterways and areas with a history of flooding should do themselves a favour and vacate their houses,” the head of the department said.
Our correspondent learnt from Musa Azare, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Katagum Local Government Area, that the floods had entirely flooded Sabon Gari, a village on the fringes of Azare town.
He stated that the floods had affected thirty-five communities across the local government.
The Chairman also acknowledged the state government’s provision of food and other household necessities to the afflicted communities.
“The villages have been completely submerged. There is not a single household that has not been affected.
“We evacuated everyone from the village to nearby government quarters, with the approval of Governor Bala Mohammed.
“We are still assessing the damage done by the floods and are working with the state and national emergency management agencies,” Azare added.
