Flood Ravages Yobe Communities, Destroys Houses
By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
HOTPEN – The persistent rainfall in some parts of Yobe State especially in the Gulani Local Government Area has continued to take its toll on some of the communities in the state.
During the weekend, one of the communities most affected by the rainfall was Bumsa, an ancient community in the Gulani Local Government Area of the state.
The heavy rains of the past few days have flooded the community leading to the partial submerging of some houses and farmlands.
The Executive Chairman of Gulani Local Government Council, Hon. Ilu Dayyabu told our correspondence in a telephone interview that the local government headquarters, Bara town have been disconnected from the state capital, “as am speaking to you now, there’s no access road leading to the local government headquarters, all the culverts have been broken down, eroded and taken away by the flood.
We have a total of 12 electoral wards in the LGA, out of these only 3 wards are free to move out (Dokshi, Bularafa and Bumsa) but the remaining 9 (Sabai, Jibilwa, Bara, Gagure, Kushmega, Garin Tuwo, Teteba, Gulani and Ruhu) are all currently disconnected from moving out”.
Speaking on the level of the damage, the Council Chairman revealed that the flood has affected so many houses and farmlands in the area “in Kukuwa town over 30 houses and shops were affected, the northern part of Bularafa about 50 houses also affected while in Guru northern part 20 submerged and Bulunkutu community completely washed away by the flood”.
“Bukci community, Bursali which links Bularafa to Bara town, the local government headquarters culvert have been taken away by the flood, thus leaving the place without an access road. Other places affected include Duyi, Kotom, Kojeli dozens of houses collapsed”.
A community member, Malam Sulayman also disclosed that in Bumsa town alone, 85 houses have been affected by the flood disaster. “The ugly situation had caused sorrow in the community as residents had nowhere to relocate after the house they built many decades ago had been submerged”.
He appealed to the Yobe State Government, Federal government, and other donors to come to their aid by embarking on proper channelization of the area and also access the level of damage to assist victims.
The report indicated that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) team under the Executive Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Goje has been dispatched to the area for assessment and advice on supporting the victims.
