7-year-old boy dies, 900 houses destroyed as flood hits Zamfara

A seven-year-old boy died and no fewer than 900 houses were destroyed as flood disaster-ravaged Gummi town and several neighbouring villages in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the Director-General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), AVM Muhammad Alhaji Muhammad has disclosed.

He said in the aftermath of the disaster, a bridge that served as a major route to travelers crossing to other neighboring villages in the area collapsed, leaving residents trapped.

Floods in Kebbi, Jigawa, others threaten food security, says NEMA

Gummi residents count losses a week after flood disaster

During a federal government delegation visit to the state for flood advocacy, the NEMA DG who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Humanitarian affairs, Mallam Musa Bungudu said the incident also rendered many households homeless and forced them to take refuge in neighboring communities and temporary Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps pending relief intervention from the federal government.

He said the advocacy visit was necessitated by the annual occurrences of flood which has become a recurring experience in Nigeria.

“Though climate change has been largely blamed for this increasing phenomenon, it is our responsibility as government and people to evolve strategies to minimise losses through adherence to warning alerts, early preparation, and proper response.

“It is therefore imperative to activate all plans and measures against the prediction as the season move towards the peak.

“This year, the highly probable flood risk areas in Zamfara State are Bakura, Maradun, Shinkafi, Zurmi and Gummi Local Government Areas,” the NEMA boss added.