By Our reporter

Aug. 24, 2020 Two children have been found dead after two days of heavy downpour that ravaged houses and farmlands in Birninkudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Two children were killed and one other person missing, says Alhaji Wada Faka, Chairman of the local government on Tuesday in Dutse.

Narrating the incident, Faka said the two children died when building collapsed on them during the rains while many others sustained various degrees of injuries.

He explained that one of the children, a 10-year-old boy, died in a collapsed building in Kiyako village, while a seven-year-old girl died also in a collapsed building in Masaya village.

Faka said that the resultant flood from the heavy downpour also washed away thousands of farmland and killed several livestock.

He also said that a 40-year-old-man in Samamiya village, one of the flooded areas, had been missing since the early hours of Monday.

Faka said a yet-to-be ascertained number of houses and farmlands were also destroyed in Malamawar Gangaran, Babaldu, Wurno, Kiyako and Samamiya villages.

“As I am speaking with you, we have already sent our officials to these villages to assess the damages caused by the flood so that we do our best to assist the victims.

“Also, we have earlier sent a situation report to State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) so that it will come to the aid of the victims.

“In fact, today I have personally met the SEMA Executive Secretary and he promised to as a matter of urgency, assist the victims with some food items before the report of our assessment is ready,” Faka said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had launched a nationwide sensitization campaign on imminent flooding in 102 communities across the country.

Aug. 19, NEMA also held a stakeholders’ meeting and awareness campaign in Dutse, on the implications of the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction.

NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, Mr Sunusi Ado urged communities in the state to take steps towards effective flood prevention and control.

Represented by Mr Aminu Boyi, an Assistant Director in the agency, Ado said there was need for communities to brace up with the realities of flooding.

Ado had said that the Nigeria Hydrological Agency (NIHSA) 2020 Annual Flood Outlook had already listed 12 Local Government Areas in the state as flood prone areas.

The NIHSA report listed Kaugama, Taura, Guri, Gwaram, Dutse, Auyo, Miga, Malam Madori, Ringim, Birniwa, Jahun and Kafin Hausa as probable flood risk areas.