Hyelda Jesiel Yaduma
No fewer than 8 communities in the Madagali local government area of Adamàwa State have turned to ghosts of their former selves, owing to flash flood disasters caused by heavy downpours.
An assessment by NEMA and ADSEMA revealed that 10,264 people had been affected, with many seeking refuge at the temporary camps provided by the local government, while others moved to other safer places.
While on the spot assessment of the devastation so far, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, through his deputy, professor Kaletapwa Farauta, has made a resounding call for those living around water-prone areas to relocate to safer or higher lands as precautionary measures against the dangers associated with flooding.
Collapsed houses, bridges, and farmlands, among others, are the features left behind by the flooding caused by the heavy downpour.
professor Kaletapwa Farauta visited the people of Shuw, among other affected communities in Madagali, to see things for himself, pledging more government interventions to cushion the effect of the devastating disaster victims.
To start with, the government flagged off the distribution of relief materials of food and non-food items worth millions of naira for emergency purposes to all the affected communities.
The governor regretted the devastation caused by the flood on both public and private properties, describing it as colossal.
Governor Fintiri tasked the leadership of the Madagali local government area and other stakeholders to put hands on deck and work towards moving the affected people to a safer place, noting that his administration remains poised towards doing everything possible to bring succour to the victims.
He, however, appealed to the federal government and other humanitarian actors to extend a helping hand to complement the state government’s efforts.
Madagali local government chairman Simon Musa and the district head of Duhu, Mustafa Mohammed Sanusi appreciated the love and concern demonstrated by the government of Adamawa during their time of need.
They also revealed that over one thousand hectares of farmlands have been affected, commending the prompt intervention of Governor Fintiri.