Flooding in northwestern Nigeria kills 33 people, uproots tens of thousands

By Timothy Olanrewaju

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - At least 33 people have been killed by floods following days of rainfall in Nigeria's northwestern Jigawa State, an official said on Friday.

Haruna Mairinga, head of the State Emergency Management Agency, told Anadolu that heavy rain which poured ceaselessly in Jigawa, a farming state, from midweek till the weekend broke the bridge on a river, causing floods and devastation.

"The death toll from the flood incident that occurred in 14 local government areas in Jigawa State is now 33,” up from 28 earlier this week, he said.

He added: “44,000 people have been displaced.”

He also said the flood destroyed 7,800 houses and washed away 10,337 hectares of farmlands.

The thousands of people displaced by the flood are receiving medical care and food aid in temporary shelters provided by the government, he said.

The government and the public are worried the flooding may continue following a flood alert issued by the country’s Hydrological Services Agency on Friday about the rising level of water from the River Niger in Niger, Nigeria's neighbor.