Heavy downpour sacks 404 residents in Gwarzo

Few days after the prediction of flood in some parts of the country by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Kano state has started experiencing the disaster with recent one in Gwarzo local government area. An assessment by the Kano State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (SERERA) indicated that 404 houses have been destroyed and properties […]

Few days after the prediction of flood in some parts of the country by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Kano state has started experiencing the disaster with recent one in Gwarzo local government area.

An assessment by the Kano State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (SERERA) indicated that 404 houses have been destroyed and properties worth N50m were also washed away by the flood.

Kano Chronicle findings revealed that, the heavy downpour which was experienced on Tuesday last week, also destroyed farm produce worth millions of naira and some public buildings including Gwarzo local government secretariat and primary schools.

Some of the affected communities include Sabuwar Unguwa, Abuja Quarters, Shagari Quarters, Tsohon-Garu, Kwakwachi Bridge, Kwanar Tasha and Getso town.

A resident of Gwarzo town, Malam Ibrahim Garba Shu’aibu, said the ongoing 5km road project in Gwarzo town was responsible for the flood.

He lamented that the pipes used by the project contractor to build culverts blocked the water passage, hence the water flooded into houses and farmlands.

“You know anytime you blocked a water passage, the water must find its way whenever there is heavy downpour. That was what exactly happened in Gwarzo. The pipe was too narrow to contain the volume of water and the water finds its way to peoples’ houses and farms,” he said.

He said, “I can roughly say about 200 persons were rendered homeless by the flood. The affected persons are currently squatting in the houses of their relatives who are not affected by the disaster.”

Shu’aibu said that a week after the incident, the affected people had not receive any assistance from both the local and state governments.

“The victims of the flood are making efforts to rebuild their houses. The chairman of our local government did not come to their aid. In fact, nobody look forward to receiving any assistance from him because this is not the first time something of this nature happened to our people and he ignored it,” he said.

Malam Usman Iro Bello, a resident of Kwanar Tasha who was affected by the flood, said the rainfall started like a normal downpour before it transformed into something of serious concern.

“When we noticed that the water was not draining as we expected, we went out to save our houses but we found out that most of the drainages were filled to the brim with water.

“We were left with no option than to remove the heavy concrete traffic demarcation constructed on the 5km road to allow the water pass. That was how we were able to control the water even though it has already done a lot of damages to us,” he said.

Meanwhile, a statement from the state Ministry of Health, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Isma’ila Garba Gwammaja, said few hours after the incident the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso, visited the affected areas and sympathized with victims.

He assured the victims that the state government would provide intervention to alleviate their suffering and experts from the state ministry of environment would find out causes and solutions of the flood which had gradually became a perennial happening in the area.

The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (SERERA), Alhaji Aliyu Bashir said that the agency had recorded 404 houses that were affected by the flood and properties worth over N50m destroyed.

“We have compiled our report and forwarded to the government and I am sure the affected people will soon receive assistance,” he said.