Hundreds of people in at least four Local Government Areas of Jigawa State have been rendered homeless following flooding caused by a heavy Downpour.
Sankara, Karnaya, Birnin Kudu and Gwaram communities in the Ringim, Dutse, Gwaram and Birnin Kudu Local Government Areas of the State were particularly affected.
The Head of the State’s Emergency Management (SEMA), Sani Ya’u, said the government was taking measures to mitigate the effects of the flood.
It was reported that hundreds of people including women, children and their livestock taking refuge at relatively safer places in the Karnaya Community in the Dutse council area.
The flood also cut off two bridges strategically located along the highway connecting the area to communities in Kano State and parts of the Northeast region.
Recall that the bridge in  August, last year, collapsed, killing at least 21 people among whom were applicants to the military who were returning home.
In a late Sunday statement, the police announced the collapse of another bridge in Birnin Kudu, Local Government Area.
“This is to notify the members of the public that, Birnin Kudu Main Bridge has collapsed, following the excessive rainfall throughout this week. Road users are warned to look for alternative roads please, the police spokesperson, Lawan Adam, said.
In the Karnaya community, residents said over 500 structures, mostly mud houses, were washed away by the flood. One of the leaders of the community, Bala Adamu, told reporters that residents are now sheltering at filling stations and a school in the community.
“The flood began around 11 pm yesterday. We all came out to save what we can. Over five hundred houses have been affected. Now our people are taking refuge at a school and some filling stations that are not affected, but they can’t contain us.
He added that the flood broke the sand embarkment they provided to protect the town.
Also, Sankara town in Ringim local government area was badly hit by the flood.
The flood in the area also submerged the highway that links Babura, Garki, Kazaure, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi, council areas.
The Local Government Council Chairman, Shehu Sule, told reporters that over 1000 houses have collapsed.
“Thousands of farmlands and crops were destroyed by the flood across the council area”, the Council Chairman said.
The Executive Secretary, Jigawa SEMA, Sani Ya’u, our source that the incident was “devastating and overwhelming”.
“For now, there is no road from Birnin Kudu to Bauchi state because the main bridge in Birnin Kudu town has been cut off by the flood,” Mr Ya’u said.
“The flood disaster is spreading across the state, we are putting up road signs to notify people about the conditions of the bridges to avoid unwanted scenarios.
“For the displaced people, we are advising people to evacuate to safer places and that is what we can do for today”, he said.