The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that three individuals have tragically lost their lives in the recent flooding in Jos.
The flood happened after a prolonged period of heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday in the communities of Gangere, Rikkos, Bauchi Road, and Eto-Baba within Jos North Local Government,
Eugene Nyenlong, the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, verified this unfortunate incident.
NEMA received a distress call reporting the deaths of three individuals due to the flooding.
Nyenlong further revealed that NEMA, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, was dispatching teams to the affected communities to assess the extent of the situation.
He said, “As I speak to you, we are moving to the scene with other stakeholders to have an on-the-spot assessment of the disaster, and also carry out advocacy visits.
“From the information before us, three persons have lost their lives from the flood that has become a recurring decimal in those areas.
“I appeal to the Plateau State Government to take stringent measures to ensure that the people vacate the flood prone areas.
“If the people do not want to move out permanently, they can vacate the areas during rainy season and return during dry season.”
He mentioned that the vulnerability to flooding in these communities is exacerbated by the presence of a waterway that connects them.
Additionally, he pointed out that the areas in question have inadequate drainage systems, which further compounds the flood risk.
Sunday Abdu, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Emergency Agency, also confirmed their response to the situation.
Abdu stated that the agency was en-route to the affected communities and would determine the necessary course of action following an on-site assessment.