No fewer than 11 persons were killed by floods in Sokoto and Zamfara States this year, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said.
Thickman Tanimu, the Deputy Head of the Sokoto Zonal Operations Office of NEMA, said 10 of the victims died in Zamfara State, while a seven-year-old boy died at Kuchi village in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Tanimu said on Friday in Sokoto while giving update of damages caused by floods in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, that more than 86,710 hectares, valued N1.58 billion, were destroyed in the three states.
According to him, a total of 20,477 homes were also affected, rendering about 50,000 people homeless. He said the flood affected eight out of the 14 local government areas in Zamafara State, which included Shinkafi, Talata Mafara, Gusau, Anka, Tsafe, Bungudu, Zurmi and Maradun.
The official explained that 8,540 houses and 6,450 hectares of farmland valued at N260 million were destroyed in the affected areas in the state.
Tanimu further said 11 out of the 23 local government areas in Sokoto State were affected by the flood, while two communities in Wurno and Goronyo Local Government Areas were evacuated.
He said: “The other local governments affected were Rabah, Kware, Binji, Kebbe, Gwadabawa, Wamakko, Bodinga, Sokoto North and Sokoto South.”
Tanimu stated that 24,750 persons and 6,922 houses were affected, with 42,800 hectares of farmlands worth N 750 million either totally destroyed or badly affected.
In Kebbi State, the NEMA official said 10 out of the 21 local government areas were also affected by the disaster. They were Argungu, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Kalgo, Dandi, Bagudo, Yauri, Danko Wasagu and Suru.
He disclosed that 21,450 persons and 5,015 houses were affected, while 37,460 hectares of farmlands worth N570 million were also destroyed.
According to him, two communities in Birnin Kebbi, namely Wabbako-Fulani and Wabbako-Hausa, have been submerged by the flood. Tanimu said the agency had provided food and other essential materials to assist the victims as part of the initial Federal Government’s intervention.
He attributed the high level of losses to the release of water from Bakalori and Goronyo dams located in Zamfara and Sokoto states respectively.
