By Priscilla Campbell,
Minna
Early morning heavy rainfall on Saturday, August 17, 2019, caused flood, which claimed three lives and rendered over 500 people homeless in Bosso and Chanchaga local government areas of Niger State.
The rain, which started at 4am, submerged over 20 houses, including shops and farms while residents were asleep.
Niger State acting Governor, Muhammad Ahmed Ketso, who visited victims said that the government has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to immediately take inventory of losses and provide relief materials made up of food and non-food items to reduce hardship faced by the people.
Ketso called on the Federal Government and relevant bodies to come to the aid of the state in tackling the constant disaster caused by flood annually.
Some residents, who spoke to newsmen, noted that the flood was due to the downpour and caused the collapse of the MYPA bridge in Bosso and washed away the Mola bridge in Dutsen Kura Hausa.
Zubairu Abdullahi, one of the victims said that all his animals and fish pond were wiped away and his entire house destroyed by the flood.
On behalf of the Dutsen Kura Hausa victims, Sanusi Mohammed, a businessman, said that three persons were carried away by the flood and had not been found.
Also, the Ward Head (Mai Angwan), Inuwa Bawa Tokura, frowned at the state government’s nonchalant attitude in looking into the incessant flooding in the areas.
He said that the only solution was to construct a drainage system from the Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna to Minna-Bida road.
A mother of three, Hadiza Rabiu, of Shanu village in Bosso LGA said that she lost her house, N40,000, food stuff and other personal effects to the flood, while calling on government to come to their aid.
Also, the Head of Shanu village, Ibrahim Musa, said that he was happy and thanking God for the rain, when it started without knowing that it was going to wreak havoc on their farms and houses.
The Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, Ibrahim Inga, confirmed the development, while disclosing that three unconfirmed cases of deaths.
He stressed that many people were displaced, while lamenting that over 70 penter c of those affected built on waterways.
On the immediate shelter needs of the displaced people, the DG, NSEMA said that over 70 per cent of the affected victims built on waterways, while calling on people to desist from such to prevent reoccurrence.