7 Year Old Boy Killed By Flood In Sokoto Damaged More Than N500m Farm Produce

( NEMA) The National Emergency Management Agency said on Friday that farm produce valued over N500 million have been damaged by flood in...

( NEMA) The National Emergency Management Agency said on Friday that farm produce valued over N500 million have been damaged by flood in seven local governments of Sokoto State.

The NEMA’s Deputy Head, Sokoto Zonal Operations Office, Mr Thickman Tanimu, disclosed this in an interview in Sokoto. He also said that a 7 -year-old boy was killed when a wall caved on him after a rainstorm in Umbutu village of Kebbe Local Government area.

He listed local government areas worst affected by the flood to include Rabah, Wurno, Goronyo, Wamakko, Kware , Binji and Silame.

Tanimu stated that no fewer than 7, 500 acres of farmland, with maturing farm produce and dozens of villages were completely submerged.

He said that the submerged villages were Duhuwa-babba, Dinbiso, Kagara, Rabah, Gandi, ‘Yar-tsakuwa, More, Kware, Kwalkwalawa, Dundaye, Rafi, Marabawa, among others.

Tanimu added that some of the destroyed farm produce included rice, maize, guinea corn, millet, vegetables, beans and groundnuts.

The official also said that the flood had destroyed hundreds of houses in parts of Gwadabawa, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Bodinga and Binji local governments. He disclosed that some roads including ‘Yar-tsakuwa-Durbawa and the Unguishi- Kuchi were cut-off by the flood.

According to him, the flooding became worse after the release of excess water by the Sokoto Rima River Development Authority (SRBDA) from Goronyo and Bakolori dams.

“This was however done after an alert and notices were sent to the agency, Sokoto State Government and the 23 local governments of the state. “SRBDA had promptly given the alert and the notices to all the stakeholders, while NEMA was also swift in doing same,” he added.

Tanimu further stated that windstorm had blown off several houses in various parts of Kebbe local government. (NAN)