11 die, 86, 710 hectares of farmland destroyed by flood in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara- NEMA.

No fewer than 11 persons were killed by flood
in Sokoto and Zamfara States in 2015, the
National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA), has said. Mr Thickman Tanimu ,
Deputy Head, Sokoto Zonal Operations Office
of NEMA said 10 of the victims died in
Zamfara while a seven-year old boy died at
Kuchi village in Kebbe local Government of
Sokoto state.
Tanimu said on Friday in Sokoto while giving
update of damages caused by flood in Sokoto,
Kebbi and Zamfara that more than 86, 710
hectares valued N1.58 billion were destroyed
in the three states. According to him, a total of
20, 477 homes were also affected, rendering
about 50, 000 people homeless.
He said that the flood affected eight out of the
fourteen local government areas in Zamafara,
which included Shinkafi, Talata Mafara,
Gusau, Anka, Tsafe, Bungudu, Zurmi and
Maradun. The official explained that 8, 540
houses and 6,450 hectares of farmland valued
at N 260 million were destroyed in the affected
areas in the state.
Tanimu further said that eleven out of the
twenty three local governments in Sokoto state
were affected by the flood, while two
communities in Wurno and Goronyo local
governments were evacuated. “The other local
governments affected were Rabah, Kware,
Binji, Kebbe, Gwadabawa, Wamakko,
Bodinga, Sokoto North and Sokoto South.”
Tanimu stated that 24,750 persons and 6, 922
houses were affected, with 42,800 hectares of
farmlands worth N 750 million either totally
destroyed or badly affected. In Kebbi state,
the NEMA official said that 10 out of the 21
local governments were also affected by the
disaster.
They were Argungu, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza,
Kalgo, Dandi, Bagudo, Yauri, Danko Wasagu
and Suru. He disclosed that 21, 450 persons
and 5,015 houses were affected, while 37,460
hectares of farmlands worth N 570 million
were also destroyed.
According to him, two communities in Birnin
Kebbi, namely Wabbako-Fulani and Wabbako-
Hausa, have been submerged by the flood.
Tanimu said that the agency had provided
food and other essential materials to assist the
victims as part of the initial Federal
Government’s intervention.
He attributed the high level of losses to the
release of water from Bakalori and Goronyo
dams located in Zamfara and Sokoto states
respectively.

Credit:Vanguard News.