Seven killed, many missing as flood ravages 7 Niger LGAs

From John Adams, Minna

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed the death of seven people while several others were declared missing as a result of flooding in parts of the state.

NSEMA also said that houses, farmlands, bridges,and some links roads have been either washed away or destroyed as the flood ripped through seven local government areas of the state.

Director General of the Agency, Mallam Ibrahim Inga in a statement in Minna on Friday gave the names of the affected local government areas to include, Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mashegu and wushishi.

According to Inga, the flood, occasioned by over four days of rainfall in the state, has equally rendered many homeless and has affected the socio-economic activities of the people.

He disclosed that six of the seven deaths were recorded in Wushshi, and one in Rafi Local Government. He said the general assessment of the rainfall impacts was ongoing and periodic updates would be made public as it unfolds.

He said with the latest  NiMet prediction of four days of heavy rainfall in five states, including Niger, communities living around riverine areas have been advised to relocate to the high ground to avoid further disaster.

This, he said has become necessary “because NiMeT latest prediction indicates that the heavy rainfall would be accompanied by violent windstorm. As such, people should avoid standing under trees during rainfall and also staying in substandard structures.”