Farmers in four Shendam villages of Plateau State are counting their losses after a devastating flood washed away their farmlands, crops as well as destroyed some houses.
The residents, who are predominantly farmers, abandoned their farmlands, thereby incurring losses amounting to millions of naira.
The farmers, who recounted their ordeal when the lawmaker representing Shendam, Mikang, Qua’an-Pan federal constituency in the National Assembly, Komsol Alphonsus Longap, paid a visit to the area, said they have suffered untold hardship as a result of the flood. They called on the lawmaker and relevant agencies to come to their aid.
Speaking, the youth leader of Bakin Kogi, Hoomen Tengshep, said around 4 o’clock in the afternoon they heard the sound of the flood and ran out to inform other people staying at the river bank to move to safer places.
Also, the youth leader of Kpoship ward of Shendam Local Government Area, Pius Kingdom, said their rice, sugarcane, cassava and other crops were all destroyed. He said they are suffering as a result because they don’t have any other thing to do apart from farming.
The councillor representing Dokan Tofa ward of Shendam called for support for and assistance to the farmers in order to ease the flood devastation.
Worried by the level of destruction, Komsol undertook an assessment tour of Dokan Tofa, Kalung, Puship and Minkaat wards of Shendam LGA to ascertain the level of damage in the community.
While inspecting the affected farmlands, the member advised the people to engage in alternative methods of farming and avoid cultivating in flood prone areas.
He said the visit was to see how they could assist and that they intend to seek assistance from the Federal Government as well as from NEMA.
“The most serious aspect of this situation is security. If there is security they will leave the riverbank and seek alternative farmlands. We have farmlands to cultivate but the security situation will not allow them to go into the interior,” he said.
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