Mokwa Flood: Bago Pledges N1bn To Victims, Many Still Missing

Niger State governor Muhammed Umaru Bago has announced that the state government would add a billion naira to the donation made so far for the victims of recent flood disaster in Mokwa local government area of the state.

Bago, who was on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia when the incident occurred, arrived in Nigeria on Sunday and went to Mokwa yesterday, where he announced that the state government would set aside the amount to help the victims.

The governor, who conducted an on-the-spot assessment of houses destroyed by the flood with various stakeholders, including traditional rulers, admonished the people not to build houses on waterways.

Bago assured that all the cash and material donated by the federal government, public-spirited individuals, government agencies, as well as donor agencies would be utilised to help the victims.

Consequently, he revealed that the state government would construct a permanent drainage system in Mokwa town and concrete bridges to avoid future reoccurrence of the disaster.

He also disclosed that the state government would endeavour to resettle those affected by the flood directly or indirectly.

Regarding the Islamic Schools worst hit by the flood, the governor advised the Islamic teachers to always ensure that they document all the pupils under their care so that they can be traced whenever emergencies arise.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the position of the governor was premised on the report that the four Islamic schools affected by the flood in Aungwa Hausa were yet to account for the number of pupils affected by the flood.

While it was learnt that 40 of the pupils were washed away by the flood , the search and rescue operation conducted showed that more than 40 pupils’ bodies were recovered.