14 Killed As Flood Ravages 20 LGAs In Niger

As flood continues to sack more communities in Niger State, the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed the death of 14 people from the natural disaster in 20 of the state’s 25 local government areas.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the surging water from River Niger at the weekend took over Kede district of Mokwa council, including the village of the deputy governor, Kesto, Muregi, Lemfa Kuso, Gbara, Gbogifu among others on the floodplains downstream Shiroro, Zungeru, Jebba and Kainji Dams.

The director-general of SEMA, Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, who confirmed the death toll, said the Nigerian Hydrological Services had advised communities along River Niger in Kwara, Niger and Kogi states to relocate.

“The agency’s warning is coming as a result of discharge of water from Kainji and Jebba Hydro Dams located in Niger State, the dams are releasing thousands of gallons of water per minute that could lead to the overflow of River Niger,” he confirmed.

Inga said, “Niger State is already experiencing negative impact of the flooding with houses, farm lands, bridges and linked roads washed away in some LGAs located at up and downstream of the four dams.

“It has rendered many homeless and has affected the socio-economic activities of 20 local government areas of Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashe Gu, Agwara, Bida, Edati Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro and Wushishi.

“Fourteen deaths have so far been recorded: six in Magama, two in Kontagora, two in Agwara and one each in Rafi, Lavun, Bosso, and Paikoro,” he said.

Inga said only five local governments were not affected by the rampaging flood.

He said the assessment of the flood impacts were still ongoing and periodic updates would be provided. He called on the stakeholders, the traditional institutions and the well-meaning residents of the state to help in mitigating the impact.