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Nigeria floods leave 38 dead

Tuesday July 17 2018
buhari

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By MOHAMMED MOMOH

Floods have killed at least 38 people in President Muhammadu Buhari's Katsina State in north-west Nigeria.

The deadly floods, caused by a downpour that lasted hours on Monday, also destroyed more than 200 houses in Jibia Local Government Area.

Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (Sema) Executive Secretary Aminu Waziri confirmed the deaths and the destruction.

Dr Waziri identified the affected communities as Kwata, Dantudu, Sabuwar, Tukare, Tsohuwar Tukare and Ungwar Mai Kwasar.

The victims

Sema, he said, was currently on search-and-rescue and assessment missions in the affected areas.

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“Several bodies have been recovered and more than 200 houses, mostly mud, destroyed,” he said.

President Buhari said he was saddened by the deaths and the destruction of property by the floods.

The president’s media adviser, Mr Garba Shehu, said in Abuja that the federal government would support the victims of the disaster.

Bring comfort

“I’m deeply saddened to observe the devastation and terrible loss of lives caused by the floods in Katsina State and other parts of the federation,’’ Mr Shehu quoted President Buhari as saying.

”As rescue and prevention efforts continue, let me express the sincere condolences of my family, the government and people of Nigeria to all the victims of the destruction by the floods.

”Let me assure that we stand ready to provide, within available resources, assistance that is needed to bring comfort to those in distress,” President Buhari said.

Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Tuesday visited the affected areas and assured the victims of urgent government’s intervention.

Sema has commenced the distribution of relief materials to the victims of floods.

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