Commuters stranded as flood destroys road in Yobe

A major road connecting Tarmuwa, Bursari and other LGAs to Damaturu, the Yobe capital, has been submerged in a flood that occurred in the state.

Mohammad Goje, executive secretary, Yobe state emergency management agency (YOSEMA), confirmed the development to TheCable on Monday.

Goje said the situation has left many commuters stranded, adding that the flooding incident came with “high magnitude”.

He said all the LGAs in the state have recorded flooding incidents, while Gulami, Gujba and Yunusari are the worst-hit as about 80 percent of the towns have been affected by heavy downpour.

“Yesterday, another road linking the state capital with Bursari and Tarmuwa, another two local government areas, was disconnected, making it impossible for commuters to pass through that axis,” he said.

“Currently there is no local government area that has not reported an incident, even though some LGAs have high severity than some. All the 17 LGAs in Yobe state have reported a case or two in different locations and communities.

VIDEO: Residents lament as flood overwhelms Ogun road pic.twitter.com/yv5pGBUhM3

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“The 2022 flood came with high severity and magnitude. From May to date, the flooding first destroyed a bridge connecting Gula and other parts of the state. About 500-meter bridge was completely destroyed, but work is ongoing and partial access to those communities has been restored.

“Another road linking Gujba LGA to the state capital has been disconnected and that has also worsened the situation because Gujba and Gulami are the two LGAs worst-affected by Boko Haram insurgency and they are in the phase of recovery currently.

“Also, a lot of IDPs have returned and if there is no access road, that means basic services and life-saving support cannot reach people in those communities.

“Staff of the ministry of work, state emergency management agency (SEMA), and MDAs have been mobilised to the site to see what can be done to curtail the hardship residents will be passing through.

“Worst-hit communities are in Gulami, Gujba, especially Yunusari LGA in which almost 80 percent of the towns have been washed away by flood.”

He added that Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe, has urged SEMA to remain proactive and intensify efforts to restore access to the road.

He also said the agency is mobilising resources to reach out to the worst-affected communities, especially in the areas of shelter, livelihood and healthcare.

Speaking on the impact of the flood, Bashir Yerima, a resident of the state, said he has been stranded in Geidam LGA and unable to resume work in Damaturu due to the damage caused by the flood.

“I was planning to return to Damaturu to resume work this morning when I heard about the incident. I am currently stuck in Geidam. I had travelled to Geidam to pay a visit to my mother, but this incident will make it difficult to return to the state capital,” he told TheCable.

“Though there is another road in Jakusko LGA that I can follow, it is too long and has been partly affected by flood.”