A midnight heavy downpour has rendered hundreds of people homeless, destroyed farmlands and foodstuff due to flooding in Ngalda town of Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The disaster has also displaced over 1000 persons in the community thereby forcing them to take refuge in neighbouring communities.
Some residents while narrating their ordeal said the Wednesday midnight rain was responsible for River Ngalda to overflow hence washing away part of the town in addition to destroying their foodstuff and farmlands.
One of the flood victims who was counting losses, Idris Ali, disclosed that his six bags of maize and the entire house was submerged in water. According to him, over one hundred houses were affected by the flood, adding that the water came from a tributary of Ngalda River which overflowed as a result of the midnight rain. Another resident, Adamu Ngalda with his family of 3 wives and 12 children were also affected by the flood.
Adamu said that he packed in with his relatives from the other side of the town. In the meantime, Yobe State Deputy Governor, Idi Barde Gubana was on Friday at Ngalda village to pay sympathy visit to the people on behalf of Governor Mai Mala Buni where he disclosed that the governor has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SE
MA) to immediately provide relief materials comprising of food and non-food items to cushion victims’ hardship. “more than 300 households have been destroyed and over 1000 people affected”, said Gubana. Speaking on the immediate shelter needs of the displaced people, the Deputy Governor said over 70% of the displaced people have been absorbed by their kith and kin in the community while the remaining 30% are staying in a temporary accommodation at a primary school in the village.
Amadu Tijjani, District Head of Ngalda disclosed that some communities in Bauchi and Gombe living along the river banks were alerted of the impending flood from the river.
He on behalf of Ngalda community commended Mai Mala Buni administration on SEMAs quick response to flood outbreak. Yobe State Emergency Management agency has rushed to the community in order to assess the situation on ground, and put all necessary efforts in place toward providing succour to those affected by the flood.
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