Three killed, 495 families displaced by flood in Kano

The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) says three persons have been killed and 495 families displaced by flood in Ajingi LGA of the state.

Saleh Jili, executive secretary of Kano SEMA, spoke on Monday in Ajingi while distributing relief materials to the victims, including the families of the deceased.

Jili listed the affected areas as Toranke, Kara Malama, Chuna, and Balare.

He said the incident occurred after a heavy rainfall on August 3 and 4.

Jili advised the residents to always clear their drainages, and urged those close to rivers and ponds in the state to vacate the area.

“If the rivers and ponds overflow, please vacate your houses and contact the agency to provide a place for you to stay, pending the end of the rainy season,” he said.

“We have deployed personnel to the communities affected for the conduct of damage assessment to enable it to develop comprehensive data and assist them.

“On behalf of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, we are here to condole with the victims and to distribute some materials to them.

“We hope the gesture will bring relief to them and alleviate their sufferings.”

The items distributed included rice, maize, cement, roofing sheets, nails, cooking oil, pillows, beans and mattresses.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dayyabu Abdullahi commended the agency and the governor for the condolence visit and donation.

He said the heavy rainfall lasted for more than 40 hours.

“On August 3 and 4, there was a heavy rainfall which lasted for more than 40 hours and made the walls of my house to collapse on my four-year-old daughter,” he said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had earlier identified 233 LGAs in 32 states and the FCT as likely to experience flooding in 2022.

Mustapha Ahmed, director-general of NEMA, had urged the states to make efforts to mitigate and respond effectively to flooding, adding that state emergency management agencies must also be proactive.