*Speaker Abass laments unfortunate incident
By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
Victims were left in tears as over 200 houses have been affected by the flood and property worth millions of Naira washed away at Chikaji Ward of Sabon Gari Local Government Area of of Zaria metropolis in Kaduna State.
The flood which occured on Monday, was as a result of torrential rainfall which occured between 5.00am and 1.00pm on Monday.
Residents of Chikaji, Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State have appealed for assistance from government and philanthropists over the flood that washed away property in the area.
In his sympathy message to the victims of the flood, the Speaker of House of Representatives at the National Assembly, Dr. Abbas Tajuddeen lamented that such an unfortunate incident happened at a time when people were making efforts to make ends meet.
The message was signed by his spokesman, Kirishi, called for an urgent intervention to provide succour to the victims, urging them to stay calm while the government makes efforts to address their plight.
Dr. Abass Tajuddeen bemoaned flood in Sabon Gari and sought intervention for the victims to reduce the pains they are going through as a result of the flood disaster.
Specifically, the Speaker called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) to come to the aid of the flood victims at this critical time.
Abass equally urged residents of the affected areas and adjoining places to take precautionary measures and heed to advisory from experts and relevant authorities on flood.
Speaking to newsmen on the flood, the village head of Chikaji, Alhaji Auwal Sani-Dambaba said the flood affected over 200 houses in the area.
He added that the flood washed away parts of the LEA Primary School in the area and substantial part of the Hayin – Ojo Cemetery.
“Currently, many graves are left open, while the victims take shelter in the neighborhood. There was no loss of life during the incident,” the village head said.
While, lamenting the ordeal of his community, the village head said a day and hours after the incident, there was no support or assistance from the government, either at national or sub national level.
However, Suleiman Liman, the Chief Imam of Chikaji Central Mosque, said the community has summoned an emergency meeting of wealthy individuals in the area with a view to addressing the immediate challenges at the cemetery.
The chief Imam added that the emergency meeting that will look into the plight of the victims of the flood.
Malam Ibrahim Ahmed, one of the victims who was standing on the rubbles of the remains of his two-bedroom flat, said they are grateful to God that the flood occurred in day time.
According to him, they were evacuating water in the house when the section of the house fell.
He said that they could not take anything from house as he was protecting his kids from the rubbles of the building.
He also appealed for support and quick intervention from the government and key stakeholders to the victims.
Alhaji Sabe Wowo Gafai Katsina, a community leader in the area, said most of the victims of the flood were now squatting with some residents who were less affected adding that some married women had returned to their parents pending the stability of the situation.
He added that the worst affected areas were along the water canal from Yan-Awaki (around Kano Round About) to Chikaji, down to Shika.