Nalado urged the affected farmers and residents to remain patient, assuring them that the Gombe State government and relevant agencies would provide assistance.
Gombe, Nigeria – The Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has reported that recent flooding has destroyed 2,517 houses and shops across 33 communities in the state.
The flood, which occurred between August 12 and August 22, also submerged 1,000 hectares of farmland, devastating local agriculture.
Mr. Ibrahim Nalado, Deputy Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at SEMA, disclosed this information in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Gombe.
He stated that the communities affected are located in the Dukku, Funakaye, and Billiri Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
“In Dukku LGA, 10 communities were affected. In Funakaye LGA, 20 communities were affected, and in Billiri LGA, three communities were affected,” Nalado said, explaining that the flooding was a result of heavy downpours during the specified period.
The flood and accompanying windstorms primarily affected houses, with only a few farmlands impacted. While no lives were lost, two children were injured in Dukku LGA, and seven animals were reportedly washed away.
Hina community in Yamaltu/Deba LGA was identified as the worst-hit area concerning agricultural damage. “Not less than 1,000 hectares of rice, maize, sorghum, and millet farmlands were submerged in water,” Nalado stated, adding that his team visited the community on Friday, August 30, to assess the damage.
Describing the situation as “huge and devastating,” Nalado noted that farmers were on the brink of harvesting their crops when the flood struck. Although the farmers expressed concern, they have accepted the disaster as a natural occurrence.
SEMA is currently compiling data on the number of affected farmers in Hina and other areas. The agency plans to forward a comprehensive report to the state government and other relevant agencies.
Nalado emphasized that addressing the level of damage, particularly to farmlands, would require collective efforts from both the state and federal governments. He called on the North East Development Commission and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support the state government in providing relief.
He also urged the affected farmers and residents to remain patient, assuring them that the Gombe State government and relevant agencies would provide assistance.
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