Floods Ravage Jigawa State, Sweep Away Houses, Roads, Bridges

Mohammed Abubakar, Dutse

The floods currently ravaging some parts of Jigawa state as a result of overnight downpour have taken over most roads linking some parts of the country.

Reports from the state on Sunday indicated that the worst affected areas so far identified, include the Ringim-Kazaure road and is threatening to sack the Sankara community in the northwest and Birnin Kudu and Gwaram in Central District

As a result of the excessive floodings, motorists and other road users are said to be stranded forcing them to go back and follow the alternative road to their destinations.

Reports said the roads which link towns like Babura, Garki, Kazaure, Gwiwa and Yankwashi in Jigawa as well as Daura in Katsina state were completely taken over by the floods.

Also as a result of downpour over the night, a culvert under Gwaram/ Basirka road precisely at Rabadi village in Gwaram LGA of Jigawa State, has been washed away.

A statement by the state Police Command on Sunday also confirmed that as a result of the torrential downpour, the Birnin Kudu Main Bridge along Kano Maiduguri has collapsed.

In view of this, road users should seek for alternative or to used the diversion created by the authority.

The district head of Sankara town in Ringim Sanusi Ahmad Mahmud confirmed the incident to reporters on Sunday

He said the incident happened Sunday night around 2:00 am as a result of continuous heavy downpour which lead to the overflow of streams in the area.

He said the flood had taken over the road and resulted in the submerging of the market and other public buildings in the area.

He explained that the water is also making its way into the town forcing residents to flee to their relatives for shelter.

The local government council chairman Shehu Sule Udi Ringim also confirmed the incident, he said over 1000 houses collapsed and thousands of farmlands washed away as a result of the flood caused by heavy downpours in the local government.

He said the local Government had provided the empty sacks and sand for the embarkment of the area to prevent the water from getting access into the town.

Udi however appealed to the state and federal governments to come to the aid of residents and to support the victims of the flood.