Flood Claims 50 Lives, Destroys Houses In Jigawa State
Following more torrential rainfall in Jigawa State this month, flooding in the state has so far killed 50 people while over 8,000 people have been displaced and houses destroyed.
Joy Kalu 
The Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sani Yusuf, has said at least 50 people have been killed and many displaced by flood in the State.
In a statement he signed on Sunday, August 14, 2022, he said the flood also destroyed thousands of houses, adding that this had forced many residents to seek refuge in government buildings.
According to him, some of the victims are from Balangu village, where over 237 houses were submerged and four people killed, adding that the State government recorded so many numbers of displaced persons in about 11 temporary camps.
According to him, the State government had opened 11 temporary camps for the displaced people.
He advised people in the State, especially those close to the River bank, to relocate to a safer place as NiMet had predicted more flooding in some parts of the north, including Jigawa.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also delivered some relief materials to ease the difficulties faced by displaced persons and other victims of the flood.
The materials distributed to the victims in six local government areas of the state namely, Hadejia, Kirikasamma, Kafinhausa, Birniwa, Kaugama, and Malammadori, included, 7,650 bags of rice, 6,450 bags of maize, 950 of 20ltr vegetable oil, 530 cartons of seasoning, 50 bags of 20kg salt, 6,000 bags of cement, 4,400 bundles of roofing sheet, 900 bags of 3inch nail, 1,100 packets of zinc nail, 2,900 pieces of ceiling board, 2,900 pieces of blanket and 5,900 pieces of nylon mat.
The director-general of NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Habib, noted that floods are among the most devastating natural disasters in the world, claiming more lives and causing more property damage than any other natural disaster.
He said as they continue to assess the situation in Jigawa State more relief materials will be delivered to the victims, and called on the general public to abide by the protection measures offered by experts to save their lives and properties against the disasters.
The state government has also directed the Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Health as a matter of emergency go and repair all their facilities damaged by the flood and rainstorm to avoid cholera outbreaks and other related diseases.
