Fresh floods render thousands homeless, destroy crops in Taraba

More floods have hit Northern and Central Taraba, ravaging communities on the banks of River Benue.

The Chairman of Ardo-Kola Local Government,Dr Jalo Buba, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Sunkani on Monday.

He said more than 3,000 hectares of crops, mainly rice, had been destroyed by the floods in 13 villages in the area.

Buba, who spoke to our correspondent shortly after visiting the areas affected by the floods, also said over 8,000 people had been displaced and were now taking refuge in Churches, Mosques and Primary School buildings in Mayo-Ranewo and Tau villages.

He listed the 13 villages located on the bank of River Benue, which were completely destroyed by the flood to include Shomo-Gale, Shomo-Ndajule, Karim lazei, Gadaguru and Shomotawa.

Others, he said, were Garinseini, Jiru-Dauda, Jiru-s-Sabon-Gari, Jiru-Tsohon Gari, Jiru-kasa, Doi and Munci as well as part of Mayo-Renewo.

The chairman said farm produce mainly rice and maize, covering over 3,000 hectares had been affected, a development he explained, could cause food shortage in the state.

Buba said the area contributed over 70 per cent of the total rice produce in the state annually, and that almost 80 per cent of such rice farms had been consumed by the floods.

He also said that residential buildings, fishing materials and boats were swept away by the disaster.

Buba said that f materials had been provided by the council and the Sate Government, but that more was needed to assist the victims,whom he said, ost all their belongings to the floods.

He called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), other relevant agencies and well-meaning individuals and organizations to come to the aid of the victims

Source : Guardian.