NEMA confirms rainstorm killed 7 in Yola -

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that seven people were so far killed in the Thursday rainstorm in Yola.

DAILY POST had reported that many families have been displaced and business owners disorganised following a heavy rain that has caused gutters to overflow into homes, shops, worship places, and all conceivable places mostly in lowland areas of the expansive Jimeta area of Yola metropolis.

Mr Abani Garki, NEMA’s head of operation in charge of Adamawa and Taraba states, on Saturday told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that “Seven people were recorded dead and 20 houses affected in the last Thursday rainstorm.”

“The areas affected are many. Our rescue and data collection teams are on the mission and when the accurate data reach our state office we will inform you,” Garki said.

He listed some of the areas affected as Runde-Baru, Wuro-Jabbe, Damilu, Yolde-Pate, Bachure, Kofare and Jambutu among others, all in Yola South and Yola North Local Government Areas.

Garki attributed the frequent flooding in most of the affected areas to the community’s negligence, saying residents demarcate and sell their lands without proper town planning.

He advised the Adamawa government to look into the land issues and urged people to avoid building in flood prone areas.