Activities of bandits and the inevitable flooding in the climax of the raining season is already threatening to push some communities in Northern Nigeria especially, the North-West into famine.
While the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported in September this year that over a hundred thousands homes and wide areas of crops have been destroyed in recent flooding in Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto states, some farmers in bandits ravaged areas in Kaduna State have abandoned their crops and farms for fear of being Kidnapped for ransom.
In Jigawa State alone, about 50,000 homes in 17 out of the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are reportedly damaged.
In an interview with TheNewsGuru.com, TNG, Jigawa based Journalist Malami Ibrahim revealed that an estimated 100,000 persons in the state may experience hunger and starvation thereby adding to the already alarming poverty rate in the state. He said that the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) reported early in September this year said that as many as 20 people have died in the flooding. Many of those fatalities were as a result of building collapse. “Close to fifty thousand Persons are displaced in seventeen local governments, their farmlands are not saved either, they seriously need attention….” Ibrahim said.
The situation is similar in Sokoto and it’s neighboring Kebbi state. The two neighboring states who are known for their perennial flood related ecological issues are now battling to tame the August flood disaster that is threatening the livelihoods of it’s citizens which is predominantly agrarian.
TNG gathered that about 11 LGAs namely; Argungu, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Suru, Koko-Besse, Yauri, Shanga, Bagudo, Maiyama, Jega and Dandi are affected by flood. “…..six bridges are completely destroyed, about 500,000 hectares of crops including rice, millet, sorghum, maize and sugarcane are completely bad….” Hussaini Jalo a sugar-cane farmer told TNG. Two among many actualities is the fact these farmers will not send any yield to the market as usual and more disturbing, feeding themselves and their families.
Known for cultivating Rice, Kebbi farmers are now disquieted, they seeking for Stimulus and relief packages from their governor Atiku Bagudu. TNG spoke to a resident of Dandi local government via the telephone, according to her she lost a complete two acres of rice farm to flood. She said she is not the only one affected by the flood. After meeting a host of sources from Kebbi, TNG authoritatively gathered that about 600,000 acres of farmland have been destroyed by flood.
Goronyo, Rabah, Sokoto-North, Wamakko, Silame and Binji are the local government affected by the recent flood in sokoto with up to 27,000 farmers loosing their sources of livelihoods and over 5000 displaced.
Kaduna and Neighboring Kano States have mile case. The two states known for high commercial activities may not have to worry like their Jigawa, Sokoto and Kebbi counterparts. Only Danbatta and Rogo Local government are affected by flood in Kano. TNG gathered that only four people died from the recent flood in Kano and only houses numbering 200 according to the Kaduna State Emergency Management agency where destroyed.
TNG notes that while Kaduna was yet to witness any devastating flood disaster as at the time of filing this report, however, the continuous warning drums of hunger and starvation have continued to beat especially in Gwada and Kargo villages in Igabi local government areas of the state where residents alleged that bandits have forced them to abandon their crops in the farms.
Aminu Musa told TNG that he cultivated guinea-corn worth N25,000 last year but couldn’t harvest for fear of being Kidnapped. “kudin jari noman dubu goma ne na kashe sa’anan da noman da shuki duka na Kash dubu ishirin da buyer….” Musa said bitterly in Hausa meaning, “I paid N10,000 to be given the farmland and further spent N25,000 to buy and plant the guinea-corn ….” Musa said since last year only farmlands within the neighborhoods are being cultivated which is not enough to feed his family.
Sani Abdullahi from same Gwada also claimed he has to abandon a farmland given to him in Kargo village for fear of the bandits. He said the bandits attack and loot their Communities. “we use to here them testing their guns….” Abdullahi said. Asked whether they have reported the matter to authorities, he said on several occasions police and the Army have gone round on patrol but found no on. “I have no choice than to start relying on some petty business that can afford me drinking water, Abdullahi said.
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Early detection warning was taken with non-nonchalant attitude, Comrade Abantlehe Executive director , MEDIA CRUX told TNG. According to Mr Abantlehe, “NIMET predictions was not adhered to by both the state and federal government. Governance is serious business of protecting lives and properties of the flood. Whether man-made or not it is a must that predictions any disaster must be taken with serious with immediate alacrity….” He said. He added that the impact of climate change which is very key in the factors that causes flood should be tamed. “Northern Nigeria is known with a small amount of trees which are also removed illegally for commercial purposes, I think a tree planting program should be introduced in the north, if this is done flood will be reduced, also there are no drainage in Northern Nigeria, the north have a poor Architectural setting, this must be tamed….” he said.
“….The various state government may also have to adopt hunger prevention strategies during the ongoing harvest season to avoid famine come 2021 dry season….” He added
On the issues of bandits in Igabi, Abantlehe said ; ” it is because the bandits are carrying arms if not the villages would have repel them…. We must tame the proliferation of light arms into the country. Let there be a collaborations between the countries where these arms are coming from so they will killing farmers, our borders must be controlled….” He said. He added that unemployment and poverty is another factor. “Since the bandits Kidnap and ask for money it means they are hungry so government must create jobs…..” He added.
