NEMA: 1,664 people displaced by flood in Sokoto communities

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says 1,664 people were affected by flood in communities in Gada LGA of Sokoto state.

In a statement on Sunday, NEMA said the flood occurred on July 17 and affected Dantudu, Balakozo, Gidan-tudu and Tsitse communities.

The agency said its Sokoto operations office assessed the situation and found out that the flood affected a lot of residents.

“Many persons were displaced due to the intrusion of the flood waters into their houses. Most of the houses made with clay collapsed,” the statement reads.

“The assessment team also reported that livestocks that include sheep and goats were also lost in the flood with many of them still missing.

“The incident also submerged farmlands, affecting about 779 hectares.”

Earlier this month, Joseph Utsev, minister of water resources and sanitation, issued a warning that 19 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) are likely to experience severe river flooding towards the end of July.

He also warned that continuous flooding may exacerbate the cholera outbreak in the country.

Utsev said the country has been experiencing flash floods caused by torrential rainfall and blocked drainage systems in urban areas.

He said the states that may be affected include Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba, and FCT.