Flood displaces 10,000 people, washes away 8 bridges in Plateau

 The troubled Plateau State has again been ravaged by flood

 

The Plateau state government says the flood that affected eight local government areas in the state washed away eight bridges and rendered more than 10,000 people homeless.

Abraham Yiljap, Plateau Commissioner for Information and Communication, told newsmen after the weekly executive council meeting on Thursday that more than 100 villages and 4,000 hectares of farmlands were destroyed.

“We are yet to determine the actual number of deaths because search and rescue efforts are still being undertaken,’’ he said.

Mr. Yiljap listed the local governments to include Kanam, Wase, Shendam, Lantang North, Lantang South, Mikang, and Q’an Pan, Jos East and Jos North.

“You will recall that at the last executive council meeting, council warned of the impending flood in the state and other states in the country.

“Unfortunately and tragically, Plateau has been affected by another flood disaster after the one in Jos North,” he said.

The commissioner said several crops had also been washed away by the disaster.

He also said the situation would lead to likely shortage of food supply in the state as the areas ravaged were mainly agricultural areas.

Mr. Yiljap commiserated with the people of the state over the unfortunate disaster, and prayed against a recurrence.

He said government had ordered an assessment of the areas affected by the flood, adding that relief materials had been sent to affected villages.

“In addition the state government is also working on a plan to ensure that it makes up for the expected shortage in food supply in the State.

“Efforts will be made to help farmers to replant fast growing and high yielding crops, so that they can have a more permanent solution to the disaster,’’ he said.