Floods in Bauchi destroy ‘700 houses, farms’

A flood has destroyed at least 700 houses and farmlands in Cheledi Community, Kirfi local government area of Bauchi state, according to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The director of planning, research and statistics at SEMA, Adamu Nayola, said the flood was caused by heavy rains that overflowed the banks of rivers in the area.

“More than 700 houses and farmlands were destroyed in Cheledi Community with rice, maize, sorghum, millet, sesame seeds and cowpea destroyed,” he said.

He described the incident as the worst to happen in the state this year.

The flood has left many residents of Cheledi Community homeless. The commissioners for humanitarian affairs, housing, and environment have visited the area to assess the damage and provide assistance to the victims.

Mr Nayola said that SEMA is conducting an enumeration of the affected houses and farmlands to determine the extent of the damage and provide relief materials. He also advised the public to avoid flood-prone areas and to stop blocking waterways with buildings.

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Nigeria has faced devastating floods in the last few years. In 2022, flooding affected 33 of Nigeria’s 36 states, displacing over 1.3 million people and destroying over thousands of homes.

The floods were caused by a combination of factors, including heavy rains, poor drainage, and the release of water from dams in Cameroon.