37 KILLED, 58 INJURED, 89, 000 FARMLANDS SUBMERGED IN ADAMAWA FLOODING

Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency(ADSEMA), says about 37 people lost their lives, while 58 others sustained injuries in the 2022 flooding.

According to the agency, 171, 000 persons were affected, while 89, 000 hectres of farmlands were submerged in Madagali, Fufore, Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk and Shelleng LGAs and some parts of the state.

It said that both private and public property worth millions were destroyed, adding that structures such as schools, health centres, market squares, places of worship, households and several others were affected.

The Executive Secretary of ADSEMA, Dr. Muhammad Amin Suleiman, disclosed this in a chat with NEWS PLATFORM on Saturday.

Dr. Suleiman, said that the natural disaster which was recorded exceeded what was predicted, explaining that it was predicted that only fronline LGAs on the bank of River Benue would be affected.

He said that to their greatest surprise, some LGAs such as Madagali, was hit by the disaster more than the predicted LGAs, saying that sources told the agency that Madagali has never recorded such heavy down pour over 100 years ago.

According to him, it was as a result of the flooding that they lost 11 people in Madagali, saying that instantly, 5 people lost their lives and 6 others at the General Hospital Mubi and at the Modibbo Adama Teaching Hospital Yola, respectively.

He said that it was based on the directives of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, that the agency provided food and none food items in all the 10 camps estasblished for the Internally Displaced Persons and subsequently extended it to other victims in their LGAs.

He applauded Governor Fintiri for his prompt intervention, pointing out that even some officials and journalists who came to the state from Abuja, for an on the spot assessment of the disaster, said it is only in Adamawa State that Government intervenes in emergency situations promptly.

Dr. Muhammad Amin Suleiman, disclosed that the intervention is far below the need due to the devastation, and pleaded with all the national bodies that have the mandate to intervene.