Following the heightened fears among the residents and stakeholders in Adamawa State over the return of a fresh wave of floods, the state government has directed the residents that settled along waterways to relocate to the highlands.
The government’s directive came on the heels of the ballooned size and the worrisome height of River Benue, which is one of the major sources of flooding in the state.
As a result, more local governments have started experiencing massive flooding after the deadly Madagali Local Government Area flood in northern Adamawa State that claimed over 11 lives.
In Yola-south and Yola-North local government areas, residents and farmers are already counting their losses with the fear that the worst has yet to come.
In Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk, Shelleng, and Mayo-Belwa, local governments all in southern Adamawa State are heavily hit by flood.
While addressing victims of the Madagali flood victims last week, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, whose village Kirchinga was not spared but also submerged by the flood, advised the people to relocate to the highlands, warning that the worst has yet to come.
He alerted that when the Lado Dam water is released, the flood situation will become worse due to climate change and other human activities, which include indiscriminate trees felling.
Fintiri called on the Federal Government to intervene and ensure that the affected persons get the necessary assistance to cushion their suffering
Some of the victims who spoke with Arewa PUNCH called on both the governor and the Federal Government to come to their aid because they lost their lifetime investments.
During his assessment of the flood situation, the National Emergency Management Agency Adamawa State Operation Officer, Yakubu Ladan, said that his agency was doing everything within its capabilities to protect the victims from further flooding.
He stressed that relocation to the highlands is the best solution to avoid falling victim to the highly anticipated next wave of flooding.
