No fewer than 11 Yobe State communities have been destroyed by a 24-hour downpour.
The heavy rain wrecked over 11 communities in Gulani and Gujba local government areas of the state.
The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) carried out an assessment impact of the damage and reported on its Facebook page that thousands of people were displaced with property worth millions of naira destroyed.
Out of the 11 communities affected, SEMA reported that they could access only seven and the rest were inaccessible as they were completely submerged by the flood.
SEMA on their verified Facebook page wrote: “In the last 24 hours, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency received with shock the devastating incident of flooding in some parts of Yobe State. The impacts of the reported flooding have assumed threatening proportions, resulting in loss of lives and properties.
“Over 11 communities in Gulani and one in Gujba were affected by the flooding as a result of the downpour. The flooding has led to the displacement of hundreds of households across 11 communities in the two council areas. Livestock and food reserves worth millions of naira were swept away by the flood.
“The Executive Secretary of SEMA, alongside stakeholders from Gulani, went round seven out of the 11 communities to inspect the level of damage and to commiserate with the victims.
Unfortunately, four people have been reported dead, including a police officer while a score of others was injured. The four affected communities (Gulani, Bara, Gagure and Njibulwa) were rendered inaccessible as the main bridge linking the town with other communities was washed away by the flood.
“The displaced people are currently taking refuge at government buildings across the communities. SEMA, as directed by Governor Mai Mala Buni is mobilising resources and intensifying effort to bring immediate relief to the affected communities while alternate routes will be used to support the inaccessible communities,” the statement said.
The Chairman of Gulani Local Government Area Alhaji Ilu Dayyabu said more than 100 houses and shops were submerged by the flood in Kukawa, Bularafa and Bulunkutu.
He said a box culvert was completely washed away in Bukci, cutting the community off from other areas.
Dayyabu said the flood ravaged nine of the 12 wards in the area. They are Sabai, Jibulwa, Bara, Gagure, Kushmega, Garin Tuwo, Teteba, Ruhu and Gulani.