•Washed away 12,000 hectares farmlands in Jigawa, 976 hectares in Kano
•Displaced 15,000 people in Jigawa, 313 others in Kano“
No fewer than 68 persons have reportedly lost their lives to flood recorded in Kano and Jigawa states since the beginning of rainfall sometime in July.
Giving the breakdown on the number of casualties, Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Isyaku Kubarachi puts the figure of casualties recorded in the state at 31 while his counterpart in the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Haruna Mairiga, said death toll hits 37.
Kubarachi who confirmed this while speaking to newsmen in Kano, said the flood which affected about 156 communities across 21 local government areas of the state also left 135 persons sustaining injuries.
He further said the flood also destroyed 5,280 houses with 31,818 persons affected and 313 persons displaced.
In a related development, in a phone interview with Vanguard, the Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Haruna Mairiga said death toll from the heavy downpour resultant flooding has risen to 37 in the state.
Dr. Mairiga said the flood has also left 15,000 persons displaced while 12,000 hectares of cultivated farmlands were washed away.
He said the flood affected 17 councils out of 27 LGAs that made up the state.
According to him, “We started experiencing flooding since July and we are not yet in the middle of the raining season. We have recorded flooding in 17 out 27 LGAs that made up Jigawa State.
“Death toll hits 37 as a result of the flood, 15,000 people displaced and currently taking refuge at our schools as government have provided them beddings (mats) and blankets.
“Similarly, 12,000 hectares of cultivated farmlands awaiting harvest were washed away,” Dr. Mairiga said.