Residents of Gadara, a local agrarian community in Itas-Gadau, Bauchi State, have pleaded with the state government to provide them with a borehole to ease their suffering in accessing potable water for consumption and other domestic purposes.
Our correspondent who visited the community reports that the residents grapple with a severe water scarcity that has upended daily life and shattered the dreams of its people.
Also, residents of Gadara are forced to trek over a kilometre to neighbouring communities such as Lawo and Jinja, just to access water for their families.
A 79-year-old elder in the community, Isa Muhammad, expressed the hope that their plight would draw the attention of Governor Bala Mohammed.
“We are happy to have the opportunity to talk to the media because we are confident that our voice will get the ears of Governor Bala Mohammed, who has been delivering dividends of democracy in the state,” he said.
The only well in Gadara, which is about 42ft, has long dried up, leaving families to devise desperate measures to survive.
Adamu Ibrahim, a 30-year-old resident, painted a grim picture of their struggles. “We use motorcycles and trays to fetch water. It’s exhausting, but we have no other choice,” he lamented.
The water crisis has compounded other challenges in the community, including access to education. Gadara’s children once attended school in Lawo but have since been withdrawn and enrolled in Tsangaya (Islamic) schools due to the hardship. Shockingly, no resident of Gadara has ever completed secondary education, let alone advanced further.
Healthcare is equally elusive in Gadara. Residents must travel to Dogon-Jeji to seek medical attention, a journey that becomes perilous in emergencies. About two years ago, a pregnant woman in labour tragically died before she could be rushed to the hospital, a haunting reminder of the cost of inadequate infrastructure.
Adamu appealed for urgent intervention to address their basic needs, particularly access to water, education, and healthcare. He added that their voices resonate with hope that the state government will act swiftly to bring relief to a community.
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