Flood caused by heavy rainfall displaced 1,000 families and destroyed 60,000 farmlands and 500 houses in the Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Saleh Muhammad, a member representing Jam’are Constituency at the state House of Assembly, asserted during a plenary session that five persons died during a boat accident in the community.
Abdul Burra, the spokesperson for the Speaker of the House, Abubakar Sulaiman, who confirmed the situation to our correspondent, said Muhammad did not state how or when the incident happened. He also recapped what Hon. Saleh Muhammed said in the House.
The lawmaker was quoted to have said, “Jama’are town and its surrounding villages had been hit by a very devastating flood that rendered several people homeless. The flood is estimated to have destroyed over 500 houses and displaced about 1,000 families. It also ravaged more than 60,000 hectares of farmlands and destroyed farm produce estimated at several hundreds of millions of naira.
“It is disheartening to inform you that, hundreds of houses and several hectares of farmlands of the following villages were destroyed by the recent flooding and their residents are currently seeking shelter at public schools, government buildings, mosques and neighboring villages in Yola, Dakodako, Gongo, Gilar, Sabongari, Jogayel, Jabbori, Bodinga, Guda, among others, are disconnected in Jama’are town, amongst others.
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“These villages have been disconnected from Jama’are town, there is no access road leading to the local government headquarters, all the culverts have been broken down, eroded and taken away by the flood. Equally, no fewer than five persons reportedly lost their lives when a canoe capsized as a result of heavy rains and windstorm in Jama’are town. The flood damaged countless infrastructures and cut many roads,” he lamented.
Burra said the lawmaker explained that Jama’are LGA had been experiencing annual flooding during the rainy season, adding that the town was vulnerable to flooding due to a river in the area.
“He urged the lawmakers to resolve that the state government should come to the aid of the people of Jama’are Constituency,” he said.