Jigawa flood death toll hits 70 as survivors accuse govt of negligence
Story from Dahiru SULEIMAN, Dutse
The death toll caused by flood in Jigawa State has risen to 70 as victims accuse the government of negligence.
This was disclosed by Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sani Yusuf, to Neptune Prime’s reporter in Dutse, the state capital.
According to him, about 2,051 people have been displaced in Karnaya village in Dutse.
READ ALSO: Flood displaces thousands in Jigawa communities
Reacting to the groaning by the victims, Yusuf said that the state government is planning to relocate 404 mothers with their children numbering about 1,334 to the Warwade Internally Displaced Camp, while the 313 men will continue to live at the primary school in the village until the flood subsides.
He stated that the state government has forwarded a report to the federal government seeking support in the management of the disaster.
“We have forwarded a report to the federal government because this problem is beyond our capacity.
“We need serious intervention. As I’m talking to you now, more towns are becoming flooded and multiple bridges have completely collapsed. Drivers should be very careful while driving,” he added.
It could be recalled that recently the federal government through the offices of the Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster Management dispatched different consignments of relief materials worth several millions of naira for disbursement to victims.
READ ALSO: FGN commences distribution of relief materials to flood victims in Jigawa
However, Neptune Prime discovered that a large proportion of the relief materials were yet to be disbursed to the flood disaster victims for unknown reasons.
Findings have uncovered that most of the relief items were stored in different locations in the state.
In a related development, the palace of a first-class emir of Ringim local government area in Jigawa State has been taken over by flood following unabating rainfall.
Speaking to Neptune Prime’s correspondence, a resident of the area, Halilu Khalidu, said what caused the flood was the Rafin-Kainuwa stream which is a few meters from the official residence of the emir.
Khalidu stated that “the emir had on several occasions appealed to Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of the state who is also a traditional title holder in the palace to rescue the palace and the neighbourhood of the palace.”
According to him, “we are in serious danger, as you can see the water has already taken over our house, you can see all buildings made of mud have collapsed while the concrete ones are cracked.”
Residents of the town have raised alarm over the persistent flooding that continues to wreak havoc in the community.
