About 20 people have been killed in floods that ravaged Bauchi and Jigawa states.  

The Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency said four persons died in the recent flood disaster in the state.

The flood also destroyed houses, submerged farmlands and washed away some sections of the Kano-Maiduguri expressway.

The Director-General of the agency, Masud Aliyu, said this during an interview on Wednesday in Bauchi.

He said the flood affected Shira, Giade and Katagum Local Government Areas of the state, following torrential rains in the past days.

“The flood left thousands homeless, submerged farmlands and cut-off roads. The affected roads include Giade-Isawa, and Kano-Maiduguri expressway,” he said.

Mr Aliyu said the state government had mobilised contractors to repair the failed sections of the roads to provide an alternative route for road users.

He, therefore, urged the people to heed to the warnings by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency about impending flood disaster.

The collapsed section of the Kano-Maiduguri Expressway had disrupted movement of goods and services in the area.

The road links Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states in the North-East.

Also, the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency said 16 persons were killed and 3,936 houses destroyed in a flood disaster.

It said the flood also submerged 2,744 hectares of farmlands following torrential rainfalls since the commencement of the 2024 rainy season.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Haruna Mariga, who stated this in Dutse on Wednesday, said the disaster affected 10 local government areas of the state.

Mr Mariga said the deaths were caused by building collapse, drowning and canoe accidents.

“The disaster resulted in 16 deaths with 3,936 persons displaced while 2,744 hectares of farmlands submerged,” he said, adding that the situation might escalate due to anticipated high volume of rainfall.

Mr Mairiga said the agency had provided temporary shelter and distributed relief materials to the displaced persons to mitigate their sufferings.

He listed the items to include rice, maize, maize grits, blankets, pasta, and mats.

(NAN)