Flood killed 96, displaced 1.3 million people in Bayelsa, says state agency

The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA), says 96 deaths have been recorded and about 1.2 million people displaced by floods in the state.

These figures were released in a report from the agency on Monday.

Walamam Igrubia, BYSEMA chairman, said the collation of data was still ongoing.

“As of November 4, 96 deaths were reported with Yenagoa local government area worst hit,” Igrubia.

“The flood affected a number of farmlands, school buildings, health structures, and other facilities. The flood also affected some 300 communities across the eight LGAs of the state.

“Preliminary reports and data available to SEMA and other agencies indicate that Bayelsa remained the most flood impacted among states in the country.”

He listed the worst affected areas as Biseni, Tombia-Ekpetiama, Tombia-Amassoma road, Akenfa, Akenpai, Igbogene, and Swali, all in Yenagoa LGA.

Others are Kaiama, Odi, Otuoke, Agbere, Odoni, Bulu-Oria, Agoro and Sagbama.

Bayelsa and the Federal Government have disagreed over the state most severely affected by the recent flooding in the country.

On Thursday, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, said Jigawa is the state worst hit by the flooding.

She also said Bayelsa was not among the 10 most-affected states.

But the Bayelsa government had disagreed, saying the statistics used by the ministry were “suspect and erroneous”.