Five killed as flood wreaks havoc on Adamawa communities

The Adamawa state emergency management agency (ADSEMA) says no less than five persons in different communities have been killed as a result of flooding.

Suleiman Muhammad, ADSEMA executive secretary, said this on Thursday during an interview in Yola, the state capital.

Muhammad said several houses and infrastructure have been swept away by the flood in Fufore, Yola South and Mubi South local government areas (LGA).

He said the agency is carrying out various flood sensitisation campaigns across the 21 LGAs of the state, while urging residents of high risk areas to relocate to safer grounds.

Muhammad added that the agency is committed to effectively managing emergency situations in the state.

“Residents of flood prone areas are advised to adhere to the instructions given by experts. They have to be very vigilant,” he said.

“More rain will fall, we cannot say that it is over yet. People must be safety conscious.”

NASARAWA TO EVACUATE RESIDENTS OF RIVERINE COMMUNITIES 

The Nasarawa government says it has approved the evacuation of residents living around the riverine communities in the state.

Zachary Allumaga, director general, Nasarawa state emergency management agency (NASEMA), in a statement on Thursday, said the evacuation is part of government efforts to mitigate impacts of impending flood.

Allumaga said five speed boats have been allocated to flood-prone areas for the evacuation exercise.

He advised residents of flood prone areas to relocate to safer grounds in order to avert loss of lives and property.

The director general also noted that the agency had previously carried out different awareness programs to warn the communities of the imminent flood.

“Sequel to the directive by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to the frontline states on the opening of floodgate of the Lagdo dam, flood prone LGAs have been directed to adhere strictly to measures put in place by the state government through NASEMA to minimise flood impacts,” he said.

“In an effort to mitigate colossal impacts of Lagdo dam, NASEMA has directed that five speed boats provided for five flood prone local government areas be activated for evacuation of people from riverine communities to the already identified high grounds.

“To this end, the agency is appealing to riverine communities to detach from unwarranted sentiments of ancestral home and take necessary steps to save their lives and loved ones as well as their property.

“As included in the mandate of the agency, it is saddled with the responsibility to prevent, mitigate disasters through awareness creation, evacuation of victims and provision of relief materials for victims of disasters.

“As a responsible and responsive government under the leadership of Gov. Abdullahi Sule, the state government will continue to support victims of disasters as well as be proactive to prevent and mitigate impacts of disasters.”