In the wake of devastating floods that swept through several communities in Plateau State on Sunday, authorities have confirmed one casualty, with two fortunate rescues.
Sunday Abdu, the Executive Secretary of SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency), shared these grim statistics during a briefing with The PUNCH in Jos on Monday. Abdu and his team, along with other stakeholders, conducted an assessment of the affected areas to gauge the extent of the damage.
Abdu acknowledged that while floods are natural disasters, this particular incident was exacerbated by human actions. He lamented, “We have just surveyed the affected communities and it’s a recurring tale of structures obstructing waterways, illegal constructions, and the reckless dumping of waste.”
He went on to explain, “These factors contributed to the overflowing of water in the area. It’s undoubtedly a natural disaster, but due to these obstructions, it has turned into a man-made catastrophe, resulting in the flooding. According to our findings, three children were caught in the flood, but quick-thinking locals managed to rescue two of them, regrettably, one remains missing. Therefore, it’s inaccurate to state that three individuals lost their lives due to the flood.”
While emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, the SEMA chief urged the state’s regulatory agency to step up efforts to combat illegal constructions. He also issued a stern warning to residents, cautioning them against building in proximity to waterways, emphasizing that such actions are against their own best interests.
The flooding incident, triggered by heavy rainfall spanning from Saturday through Sunday, has left approximately 100 households displaced in several communities, including Anguwan Rogo, Rikkos, Bauchi Road, and Naraguta, all located in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
