Flood submerge houses, farmlands, displace communities in Niger
No fewer than five communities have been displaced, houses and farmlands submerged by flood in Niger state.
Alhaji Salihu Garba Overseeing Director-General of the Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this to newsmen while giving update on the current flood situation in the state.
He disclosed that the agency had received reports of flood incidents from eleven local government areas of the state.
“The local government areas are Mokwa, Lavun, Edati, Gbako, Lapai, Agaie, Katcha, Magama, Rijau, Mariga and Chanchaga.
“The flood incidents are in various degrees, in some areas, houses have been submerged while in some, farmlands washed away and in some areas like Mokwa, five communities displaced,” he said.
Garba added that Mariga and Kontagora council areas had experienced violent wind behavior which resulted to destruction of house and dead of a minor in Rafin-Gora area of Kontagora.
According to him, there was also an upsurge of banditry attacks within the wet season in Mariga and Munya which had created fears in the minds of farmers from engaging in farming activities.
He disclosed that two persons lost their lives as a result of bandit attacks in Mariga and about 60 people kidnapped with over 1,000 persons displaced.
He added that one person was killed with over 500 displaced in Munya, adding that those displaced from Mariga were taking refuge in Bangi primary school while some were living with relations in Kontagora.
Garba said that the state government was concerned about the upsurge of banditry activities during the wet season, adding that the situation prone threat to food security in the country.
He said the governor, Mr Umaru Bago directed the agency to carryout an assessment on the affected communities to see that economy effect of flood was mitigated.
He added that early warning system yielded result in saving lives, adding that the agency was working asidiously with comprehensive assessment list for short time relief measures for people currently displaced by flood.
