Floods Displace Over 1,600 In Sokoto Community

Heavy rainfall in Sokoto State’s Gada Local Government Area has displaced 1,664 people, damaged homes, and destroyed farmland.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that at least 1,664 individuals have been displaced due to recent flooding in four communities in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State. According to a statement by Abdullahi Ghani, Information Officer of the Sokoto Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the flooding was caused by heavy rainfall on July 17, 2024.

The floods have caused extensive damage to agricultural land and resulted in the loss of livestock, including many sheep and goats. The affected communities include Dantudu, Balakozo, Gidan Tudu, and Tsitse.

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An assessment conducted on Saturday by officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and SEMA revealed the extent of the damage:

• In Dantudu village, 62 houses and 71 households were affected.
• In Balakozo village, 33 houses and 48 households were impacted.
• In Gidan Tudu village, 38 houses and 52 households suffered damage.
• In Tsitse town, 68 houses and 89 households were affected.

The flooding has left many residents without homes and has severely impacted their livelihoods.

The report also mentioned that the overall count of individuals impacted by the flood at Dan Tudu, Balakozo, Gidan Tudu, and Trait Town stands at 1,664.

In recent years, Nigeria has faced severe flooding events in 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2022.

Previously, the Federal Government, through the Minister of State of Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, revealed that 94 towns were at risk of flooding for five days starting Tuesday, July 16, 2024, and concluding on July 20, 2024.

Salako indicated that these areas were expected to receive intense rainfall, potentially causing flooding during that timeframe.

On Friday, July 19, 2024, a non-governmental organization named Safe and Better Nigeria urged both the federal and state governments to learn from previous devastating floods in the nation.

The organization emphasized that proper planning could mitigate the impact of the upcoming flood in 2024.

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Towards the end of Thursday, July 18, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in the Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, where floodwaters carried away four individuals during a severe storm that lasted into Friday and Saturday.

This storm led to significant flooding, reportedly taking the lives of the victims, including a mother and her child.

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