Over 350,000 people displaced as flood sacks Nasarawa communities

The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) says 361,000 persons have been displaced by floods in eight LGAs in the state.

Zachary Allumaga, executive secretary of NASEMA, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with journalists in Lafia, the state capital.

He said the affected LGAs are Nasarawa, Toto, Doma, Awe, Lafia, Obi, Karu and Akwanga.

He said floods could possibly displace one million people in the state before the end of the rainy season.

But he added that the state emergency agency had begun a search-and-rescue mission as well as an on-the-spot assessment in the affected communities.

“The agency with the authority of the governor went round and began sensitising people at the riverine areas in the flood-prone LGAs, Nasarawa, Toto, Doma, Awe, and the flood flash point LGAs, Lafia, Obi, Karu and Akwanga,” he said.

“About 135,000 people were displaced in Umaisha, Toto LGA, 226,000 displaced in Nasarawa. Five communities in Doma and two communities in Obi LGA were submerged. As I talk to you, our men are in the river to take assessment, search and rescue.”

He asked persons living along riverine areas to move to high ground.

Nigeria is experiencing one of the worst floods in this decade, with over 300,000 people already reported dead since January.

Mustapha Ahmed, NEMA director-general, said over 100,000 have been displaced, and that efforts are being made to evacuate vulnerable communities.