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Floods are said to have ripped through seven local government areas of Sokoto State, leading to the death of a seven-year-old boy and destruction of farm produce worth N500 million. According to analysts, this is undoubtedly the worst form of flood the state would experience in a very long time. The impact brought on by the flood is expected to have long lasting negative effect on the residents of the local governments affected in particular and residents of the state at large. The farm produce lost is also an indication of hunger in the days to come.

The Deputy Head of Sokoto State Zonal Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Thickman Tanimu, announced the flood havoc at the weekend in Sokoto, the state capital. He said that the seven-year-old boy was killed when a wall fell on him after a rainstorm in Umbutu village of Kebbe Local Government area.

According to him, the local government areas that were worst affected by the flood are Rabah, Wurno, Goronyo, Wamakko, Kware , Binji and Silame. Tanimu said that no fewer than 7, 500 acres of farmland, with maturing farm produce and dozens of villages were completely submerged.

He said that the submerged villages are Duhuwa-babba, Dinbiso, Kagara, Rabah, Gandi, ‘Yar-tsakuwa, More, Kware, Kwalkwalawa, Dundaye, Rafi and Marabawa, among otherss. Tanimu added that some of the destroyed farm produce included rice, maize, guinea corn, millet, vegetables, beans and groundnuts. The NEMA official also said the flood had destroyed hundreds of houses in parts of Gwadabawa, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Bodinga and Binji local governments.

He said that some roads including ‘Yar-tsakuwa-Durbawa and the Unguishi-Kuchi were cut off by the flood. According to him, the flooding became worse after the release of excess water by the Sokoto Rima River Development Authority from the Goronyo and Bakolori dams.

“This was however done after an alert and notices were sent to the agency, Sokoto State Government and the 23 local governments of the state. SRBDA had promptly given the alert and notices to all the stakeholders, while NEMA also did the same,” he added, even as he said that windstorm had blown off several houses in various parts of Kebbe Local Government.

The flooding can be said to have occurred at a very bad time, considering predictions of famine made public earlier this year by experts in the agriculture sector. Aside the fear of hunger or famine, the health impact is another thing to put into consideration. Relevant government authorities have their works cut out for them to ensure the flood issue does not lead to an epidemic and other psychosocial impacts on the people of sokoto state.

NEMA officials have visited the affected areas and have promised to provide all the supports needed to assuage the affected people. The officials said the government would provide cushioning solutions to ensure the crops destroyed do not have extensive impacts on the people. Concerning the houses destroyed, there are plans to provide temporary accommodation for those affected.