From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The August downpour hit Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, claiming six lives, 10 injured, and thousands of homes washed away.
The havoc was a result of the heavy downpour that led to the collapse of the Wagga Bridge connecting Borno and Adamawa states; over 1,000 hectares of land were submerged.
The Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Yola, Ayuba Ladan, made this known in the company of the Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, during an assessment tour of the affected communities.
The flood had over 10 people injured, and 10,264 people affected in Madagali; explained further that the heavy downpour did not spare Shuwa with overwhelmed local rivers, flooding even the collapse of the Shuwa Bridge, which links Gulak.
Destroyed by the flood include houses, shops, boreholes, and other valuables in the villages of Kirchinga, Duhu, Maiwandu, Jahili, Kokohu, Lumadu, Zhau, Palam, Kwambula, Shiware, and Shuwa.
The state government, through Deputy Governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, expressed sympathy and concern over the situation caused by the heavy rain.
Visiting the area, Farauta had already directed the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) to immediately provide necessary relief materials to the victims.
She appealed to the Federal Government for urgent assistance to help alleviate the suffering of the over 10,264 flood victims in Madagali Local Government Area.
She said it was shocking how such extensive destruction was and advised the affected families to find solace in their faith.
She said, “I am appealing to the Federal Government and humanitarian donors to support the victims of the Madagali flood, “The damage is immense, with 11 communities affected by the flood.”
One of the victims, Hauwa Bukar, a mother of nine, lamented, “Our house has been washed away, leaving only a plot of land behind. We cannot question God for His actions, but we are calling for support from our governments and those concerns to come to our aid”
An eight-man committee have already been set up by both the local government and the Nigerian Red Cross for temporary shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
According to the government, the shelters will go around Lumadu Primary School, Health Care Centre, GSS Shuwa, Central Primary School Shuwa, Christian Secondary School Shuwa, Divine Mercy School Shuwa, Mayo-Wandu, and Lumadu Model Health Care Centre.
