Bauchi lawmaker donates N6.5m relief materials to flood victims

The Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba, has donated N6.5m and relief materials to victims of a recent flood disaster in Bara community, Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Buba announced the donation on Sunday during a sympathy visit to the community, where he also conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by the flood.

Speaking during the visit, the senator expressed concern over the incident and assured residents that he would raise the matter at the National Assembly.

“I am so concerned with the development when I heard about the flood in this community, and that is why I came physically to sympathise with you and equally make an on-the-spot assessment of the incident, which I will deliver in the Assembly immediately after we resume sitting.

I am deeply concerned and I condole with you on the development,” he said.

While announcing the donation, Buba said N5 million would be distributed to over 360 households affected by the disaster, while N500,000 each would be given to traditional leaders, women and youths in the community.

“I am donating N5 million to the more than 360 households destroyed, an additional N500,000 to traditional leaders, N500,000 to the women and five hundred thousand naira to the youth respectively,” he stated.

The senator’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Sabo Muhammad, also disclosed that relief materials had been provided to the victims, saying the items included, 100 student-size mattresses, 200 mats, 100 bags of 25kg rice, 100 bags of maize and 150 blankets.

Residents of the community, who spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the visit, commended the senator for the intervention while appealing for additional support from government and humanitarian organisations.

A 64-year-old resident, Dahiru Yuguda, whose house and livestock were destroyed by the flood, described the disaster as unprecedented in the history of the community.

“Our community has never witnessed this kind of rainfall and flooding before. More than a hundred years people have lived in this community, and nobody can remember experiencing such a disaster,” Yuguda said.

He lamented that many residents had been rendered homeless and now lived in fear whenever rain clouds gathered.

“Since the flood occurred, there has not been another rainfall, but whenever we see clouds gathering, everybody becomes frightened because many families no longer have roofs over their heads,” he added.

Yuguda explained that women and children currently occupied the few habitable rooms left standing, while many young people slept in open spaces.

“Some women and their children are managing the remaining rooms, while many youths sleep in open spaces. Whenever the weather changes, people become worried because they do not know where to seek refuge,” he said.

He appealed to the government and relevant agencies to expedite action on the completion of an ongoing road project and assist victims in rebuilding their homes.

“What we need now is for the road project to be completed so that the water channels can be properly identified and redirected. We also need support from government and humanitarian organisations to rebuild our houses and provide shelter for affected families,” Yuguda said.

Another victim, 30-year-old Adamu Muhammad, said the destruction of his family’s home and source of water had worsened the hardship faced by residents.

“The flood destroyed everything we had, including our well, which was our only source of water. My major concern now is how to take care of my elderly parents and young children,” Muhammad said.

He noted that elders in the community had repeatedly stated that they had never witnessed a similar disaster.

Muhammad recalled how residents evacuated vulnerable persons during the disaster.

“We had to move elderly people out of their houses and take them to a nearby mosque for safety. It was a very difficult situation,” he added.

He appealed to philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to support affected residents.

“We are calling on individuals, charitable organisations and philanthropists to come to our aid. We need help to rebuild our houses and start our lives again,” he pleaded.

Arewa PUNCH recalls that a heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds had on Tuesday claimed the lives of two persons and destroyed hundreds of houses, livestock and property in the Bara community, Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Some of the victims were identified as 50-year-old Aisha Sagir and her four-year-old granddaughter, Aisha Shuaibu, both residents of Unguwar Katsinawa in Bara Village.