2 Die, 1 Missing As Flood Destroy Houses, Farmland In Jigawa

Two children have been killed and one other person missing following two days of heavy downpour in Birninkudu Local Government Area of Jigawa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the heavy downpour also destroyed many houses and farmlands.

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Alhaji Wada Faka, Chairman of the local government, said on Tuesday in Dutse said that the two children died when building collapsed on them during the rains while many others sustained various degrees of injuries.

He explained that one of the children, a 10-year-old boy, died in a collapsed building in Kiyako village, while a seven-year-old girl died also in a collapsed building in Masaya village.

Faka added that the the resultant flood from the heavy downpour also washed away thousands of farmlands and killed several livestock.

The council boss added that a 40-year-old-man in Samamiya village, one of the flooded areas, had been missing since the early hours of Monday.

According to him, a yet-to-be ascertained number of houses and farmlands were also destroyed in Malamawar Gangaran, Babaldu, Wurno, Kiyako and Samamiya villages.

“As I am speaking with you, we have already sent our officials to these villages to assess the damages caused by the flood so that we do our best to assist the victims.

“Also, we have earlier sent a situation report to State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) so that it will come to the aid of the victims.

“In fact, today I have personally met the SEMA Executive Secretary and he promised to as a matter of urgency, assist the victims with some food items before the report of our assessment is ready,” Faka said.

NAN reports that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had on Aug. 19, held a stakeholders’ meeting and awareness campaign in Dutse, on the implications of the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction.

Mr Sunusi Ado, NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, had at the meeting, urged communities in the state to take steps towards effective flood prevention and control.

Represented by Mr Aminu Boyi, an Assistant Director in the agency, Ado said there was need for communities to brace up with the realities of flooding.

Ado had said that the Nigeria Hydrological Agency (NIHSA) 2020 Annual Flood Outlook had already listed 12 Local Government Areas in the state as flood prone areas.

The NIHSA report listed Kaugama, Taura, Guri, Gwaram, Dutse, Auyo, Miga, Malam Madori, Ringim, Birniwa, Jahun and Kafin Hausa as probable flood risk areas.