Yobe SEMA to relocate to prone areas as 4,000 homes go under water

As flooding continues to threaten communities across Yobe state, Governor Mai Mala Buni has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to immediately relocate to the prone areas for onward response.

The Executive Secretary of SEMA Dr Mohammed Goje who briefed journalists in Damaturu noted that about 4,000 households in 82 communities of Bade and Jakusko were worst-hit by the flood in the last 10 days.

He said many farmlands with produce almost ready for harvest were washed away by the disaster, while others were submerged under water.

Farmers in Karage and Dawayo, had earlier lamented that the disaster has posed danger to their livelihood as most of them rely on rice farming, while many youth engaged in daily farm labour have lost their job.

“As part of emergency measure, the governor directed us to relocate to Bade and immediately ensure that the affected households receive succour and measure put in place for embankment, evacuation, timely assessment and response,” SEMA boss said.

According to him though the actual cause of the perennial flood could not be ascertain but it may be related with river over flow in the neighboring Hadejia in Jigawa state.

He said Buni had earlier directed a strong delegation led by the commissioner of Humanitarian affairs Dr Garba Iliya to commiserate with flood victims in the two affected LGAs.