By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi.

The Coordinator of the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Abubakar Umar Gabarin, has said that eight people lost their lives to flooding in the state.

Gabarin also disclosed that flood has so far destroyed properties worth N200 million in the state.

Abubakar said this last Thursday while briefing newsmen in Bauchi.

He stated that three of those that died hailed from Ningi local council, three from Gamawa local council, one person each from Jama’are and Toro local councils.

Gabarin said farms, livestock and other property worth about N200 million were lost to the menace.

He said that the agency was still counting losses, adding that the available report would be submitted to the state Governor, Bala Mohammed, so the government could assist the victims.

On his part, Director of Research and Statistics of the agency, Adamu Nayola, said SEMA had advised people residing in waterways to relocate to safe areas before the peak of the rain season.

He noted that such people had about three months to prepare against the disastrous effects of the flood.

Adamu said people should avoid swimming in the river whenever they see heavy downpours because “sometimes it comes with sharp objects that will injure and kill people.”

“Many of the victims are yet to relocate despite the signs of more rains and the victims said they need government support to get new homes. You can see the results. Besides the high number of casualties recorded, many houses were submerged, others collapsed, several farmlands submerged just as foodstuffs and livestock were also lost.

“We lost so many things. We need help and assistance from the government and well meaning Nigerians for us to be able to return to normal life,” one of the victims, Ayuba Umar said.