Submerge 116 towns, destroy 200 farms

Prediction by the National Metrological Agency that many communities will experience flood this year has become a reality, as over 100 towns and villages have been submerged in Adamawa state.

Investigation by People’s Daily in Yola revealed that, 27 villages were flooded in Demsa Local Government Area in the state, leaving a four year old girl dead while houses and farmlands with unripe products were destroyed completely.

Most of the victims are now taking refuge at government primary schools as make shift camps for safety of their lives.

Head of Service of Demsa Local Government, Mrs. Aduksiti Johanna, who went round the campuses sharing some relief materials from the council, described the development as “pathetic and challenging in deed”.

Johanna, while identifying with the displaced people, assured them of government support, even as she said, the council will complain to the appropriate authorities with a view to providing them succor.

Also affected are 18 villages in Numan Local Government Area, where houses, schools, markets and worship places were destroyed by the ravaging flood waters.

A village head, Mr. Zamani Mbula decried that the disaster has caused a serious setback to their people who are majorly farmers and business oriented as all they laboured for has perished.

Mbula estimated that over N100m properties were destroyed by the August visitor (flood).

He also appealed to State and Federal Governments to come to their aid in earnest.

Similarly in Lamurde Local Government Area of the state, 16 villages were badly damaged as a result of the flooding waters.

A resident, Saidu Usman in the area said that, all the towns and villages situated on the river bank were completely submerged and all valuables were destroyed.

Usman opined that, the development has turned to be a lesson to them in life, urging others yet to be affected to move out immediately.

Reports from Shelleng Local Government Area in the state indicated that villages were seriously washed away by the flood including farm products and properties.

Another local government destroyed by the flood is Hong Local Government Area in State

Reports from the area indicated that, the rain which started around 8:45pm that fateful day lasted for many hours which affected most of the locally mud-made homes thereafter were washed away by the flood.

Some of the residents interviewed observed that lack of good town planning and drainage network are likely to be major factors that caused the tragedy in the area.

Reacting to the development, District Head of Pella, Mal. Saleh Mamman opined that, the calamity ensued as a result of the abandoned Maiha-Pella road where constructions of culverts were neglected by the project firm at the site.

Mamman insisted that, naturally if you block access road for water without alternative then it (water) must create path for its self.

He therefore, called on Governor Muhammad Jibrilla Bindow to as a matter of utmost public importance come to their aid.

Collaborating, Mr. Aliyu Yakubu said the government, deserter Emergency Management Agencies (NEMA and ADSEMA) including well to do Nigerians should assist the people of Pella as all their houses and food stuff were badly destroyed by the rainfall.

Mr. Jibrilla Hassan, a resident who escaped death by the whisker narrated his ordeal, saying as the rainfall was ongoing, the walls of his aged mud house began to melt away which collapsed, but was rescued his wife and four children through the window.

   Mrs. Maria Elam expressed shock over the development, describing it as havoc beyond their control”

Elam said life to them as a people is best named, “trying times” decrying that, they have not finish counting their loses over the insurgency menace, another calamity has befallen the community again.

Confirming the development, the Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, ADSEMA, Mallam Haruna Hamman Furo said by their statistics, 116 communities have been submerged by the ravaging flood and one case of death was reported in Demsa Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Village Head of Warwade, Alhaji Ado Musa, has said that flood washed away over 200 rice farms valued at N20 million in his community in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa.

Musa made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Sunday.

He said that the menace was as a result of a heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding caused by tributaries of the dam in the area in the last few days.

“All the rice we planted in over 200 farms at the bank of the dam was destroyed because the dam was over filled with water.

“We lost rice of over N20 million because we planted on north, south, east and west sides of the dam and the water has submerged it all, and the fishes in dam were feeding on the rice day in day out,” he said.

The village head recalled that it was predicted that low rainfall would be recorded in 2015, and as a result, farmers decided to plant the rice close to dam.

According to him, the motive behind planting close to the dam is that the farmers can use it to water the rice in case of short rainfall as predicted.

“We decided to plant close to the dam based on the prediction that low rainfall will be recorded this year so that we can use the dam to water the rice to reap, but the reverse is the case,” Musa said.

Musa said that the victims were pleading with the government for assistance.