Jigawa Flood Death Toll Rises to 33, Thousands Displaced

The devastating flood in Jigawa State has claimed 33 lives, according to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar. The former governor of Jigawa State released this information on Saturday during his visit to the state capital, Dutse. The minister expressed deep condolences to the state government and families who have lost loved ones in the disaster.

The flood, described as one of the worst in recent memory, has affected 148 communities across 14 local government areas, impacting approximately 50,000 people and over 11,500 households. “Over 148 communities were affected, 7,500 households were affected, over 50,000 people were affected, and about 11,500 farmlands were also affected, while we lost 33 indigenes of the state as a result of this affliction,” Abubakar stated during his visit to Governor Umar Namadi.

Governor Umar Namadi expressed gratitude for the minister’s visit, acknowledging the widespread concern in the country. “I am sure so many people in Abuja are also sympathizing with you. This situation is for all of us,” the governor said. “You still decided to be here physically.”

The state government is now waiting for relief materials from the Federal Government as they continue to battle the flood, which has been exacerbated by continuous rainfall in the region. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has labeled this flood as the worst the state has experienced, despite the region’s history of annual flooding.

“These last few days have been quite challenging as rain fell for three days non-stop,” said Yusuf Sani, head of Jigawa’s SEMA. He noted that emergency workers have been dispatched to affected communities to count the displaced, estimating that the number of displaced people is in the thousands. Kafin Hausa district has been the hardest hit, with 10 people killed, 68 hospitalized, and 1,436 displaced, most of whom are from Balangu village where 237 houses were destroyed.

To accommodate the displaced, 11 temporary shelters have been set up, including in schools that are currently closed for the holidays. One such victim, Aminu Ibrahim, who lost his home in Kirikasamma district, now lives with relatives in a primary school along with 12 other displaced families.

SEMA officials are concerned that the situation could worsen as more torrential rains are expected in the coming days. The imminent release of water from the Komadugu River, a measure taken by authorities to prevent the banks from bursting, adds to the urgency. “We have asked all residents of villages along the river banks to evacuate as soon as possible because the water would be released any moment from now,” Sani warned.

The situation is further aggravated by the overflowing of the Tiga and Challawa rivers in neighboring Kano State, which regularly floods into Jigawa State, according to Hamza Muhammad, a local official. The unusually heavy rains, which Muhammad attributes to climate change, have compounded the problem. Additional factors include insufficient drainage, the clogging of river canals by weeds, and illegal constructions on waterways.

This is not the first time Jigawa State has faced such a disaster. In 2020, at least 40 people were killed, and more than 100,000 hectares of crops were destroyed by floods, according to SEMA. In the most recent incident on August 4, two days of heavy rain resulted in flooding that killed three people and displaced nearly 500 in Ajingi district.

Emergency officials in Jigawa are now on high alert, urging residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate and take precautions as the state braces for more heavy rains and potential flooding in the coming days.