Floods have destroyed houses and washed away cemeteries in the Zaria communities in Kaduna State.
The executive secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), Dr Usman Hayatu Mazadu, has therefore called on residents of the state to relocate from flood-prone areas.
He said the call has become imperative in view of the flood cases recorded in the Zaria and Sabon Gari local government areas of Kaduna State, where several people were displaced and are taking refuge at the local government secretariat.
“We have identified all the affected people and houses and have camped them somewhere and have provided them with food and other necessities pending when the place will be safe for them to either return or for the affected people to look for alternative places.
“The governor has asked that details of the affected people and houses be collated and such houses be thoroughly assessed if it will require relocation particularly if it is on water ways or flood prone area,” he said.
The flood which was as a result of torrential rainfall that lasted for hours on Monday washed away cemetery, houses and properties of Chikaji in Sabon-Gari local government area of Kaduna State.
Recall that on Tuesday in Zaria, the village head of Chikaji, Auwal Sani-Dambaba said the flood affected over 200 houses in the area.
He added that the flood washed away parts of the LEA Primary School and desecrated a substantial part of the Ojo Cemetery.
“Currently, the victims took shelter in the neighborhood but no loss of life during the incident. However, many graves were left opened,” the village head confirmed.
In a move to address the immediate challenges of the cemetery, he revealed that the chief imam of Chikaji Central Mosque, Malam Suleiman Liman, said the community had summoned an emergency meeting of wealthy individuals in the area for possible assistance.
The chief imam added that the emergency meeting would also look into the plights of the flood victims.
Ibrahim Ahmed, one of the victims, stood on the rubles of the remains of his 2-bedroom flat and said he was grateful to God Almighty that the flooding occurred during the day.
According to him, they were evacuating water in the house when a section of the house collapsed, adding, “I didn’t remove anything from the house, because I was busy protecting my kids from the rubles of the building.”
The victim appealed for support and quick interventions from the government at all levels, wealthy individuals and other key stakeholders to cushion the effect of the flood.
Meanwhile, the ES SEMA Dr Mazadu, while addressing reporters on Tuesday night, said the state government had taken measures to mitigate the impact of the flood, including desilting drainages and conducting sensitisation campaigns.
Mazadu noted that despite predictions and warnings, some residents refused to relocate to a safer place, leading to the destruction of over 200 houses in Zaria and Sabon-Gari LGs, stressing that residents’ cooperation was crucial in ensuring their safety.
The SEMA boss emphasised that the government was committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens, but residents must also take responsibility for their lives and properties.
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