At least 11 persons have lost their lives, and over 41,192 others have been displaced due to a devastating flood incident in Niger State.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) in a statement on Thursday stated that the floods occurred on September 21, destroying 271 houses and 171 hectares of land across two local government areas (LGAs).
Abdullahi Arah, NSEMA director-general of NSEMA detailed that 6,865 households in 34 communities are currently in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
The deceased include five individuals from Mokwa LGA, two each from Shiroro and Munya LGAs, and one each from Katcha and Rijau LGAs.
Arah emphasised that the significant impact of the flooding, stating, “246 school infrastructures have been washed away, creating accommodation problems for pupils, students, and their teachers.”
He further noted that as of September this year, “18 bridges and 80 culverts have been destroyed by floods, causing communication problems for people in the affected areas.”
The flooding has also led to concerns over food shortages, affecting 118,692 hectares of farmland, including crops that were ready for harvest. “Over 1,600 fish ponds were also washed,” he added.
In response, the Niger State government has approved the immediate procurement of food and non-food items. NSEMA has reached out to stakeholders, donor institutions, and international partners for assistance to aid the affected individuals.
The affected LGAs include Mokwa, Katcha, Lavun, Lapai, Agaie, Shiroro, Munya, Gbako, Kontagora, Bosso, Edati, Agwara, Magama, Bida, Mashegu, Borgu, Gurara, Suleja, and Rijau.
Sahara Reporters
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