Flood Destroys 50 Houses in Sokoto

Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto

Not less than 50 houses were Monday destroyed by flood in Makuwana village of Sabonbirni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

THISDAY checks revealed that the incident was as a result of an overflow of the river that submerged a 15-kilometre road in the area.

It was also gathered that many residents of the area had been rendered homeless while farmlands were also destroyed.

Speaking with newsmen in the area, the member representing Sabon-Birniconstituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Yusuf Muhammad Gobir, said his visit to the area was to ascertain the level of damage caused by the flood and to offer support to the victims.

He noted that the people had been experiencing flood during the rainy season, especially residents of Sabon-Birni, Bafarawa, Makuwana and some surrounding villages.

Gobir said the flood had destroyed farm produce worth several millions of naira, houses and properties.

While sympathising with the victims of the flood disaster, the lawmaker pledged to forward the assessment to the state government for immediate assistance.

He therefore, called on state and federal governments to come to the aid of the flood victims.

In his remarks, the Village Head of Makuwana, Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim, lamented that the people of the  area had been suffering from this natural disaster in the past five years, adding that many people had left the area to nearby communities as a result of the flood.

According to him, the residents of the area constructed temporary embankments before the rainy reason but unfortunately the community was submerged by flood.

He appealed to the state and federal governments to relocate them to another area to enable them continue with their lives.

“We have been facing incessant flood disaster in the past few years and want to be relocated to another area.

“We are pleading with the state and federal governments to relocate us to a safer place to enable us start a new life and be able to take care of our families and livestock,” he added.