This was disclosed by the state Executive Secretary of the Agency, Barrister.Zachary Zamani Alumaga while responding to questions from journalists in Lafia.
According to him, the Internally Displaced Persons are from some flashing points of flood risk Local Government.
Enumerated areas includes, Nasarawa Local Government which is boundary with river Benue, saying the community with a population of 65,000 people was submerged by flood disaster with the victims taking refuge in Mararaban Udegi.
He further explained that out of the 10,000 displaced victims 65,000 are from Odeni Magaji,
“Many valuables such as houses and farms are washed away in the incident that left people homeless, attributing the carnage to the refusal of commoners to abide by all safety and precautionary measures adopted by NASEMA.
He added the agency had outline some preventive measures to avert flood in urban centres to include sensitization to prevent people from farming, building and dumping of refuse along waterways.
“We also created other channels of warning to people at the flood prone communities closed to river Benue, adding that preventive and curative measure were taken to ameliorate flood.
Communities affected were, Ribi community in Awe Local Government,Ara in Nasararwa Local Government,Odeni Magaji in Nasararwa Local Government.
Alumaga explained that some of the Local Government Councils that are prone to flood disaster are Awe, Lafia, Nasarawa, Toto and Keana while those listed as flash point for flood are Nasarawa Eggon, Karu.
‘’Awe, Doma, Toto, Nasarawa shared boundary with river Benue; He said the rapid response team are working round the clock to tackle any eventuality within the riverine communities’’.
The Executive Secretary, NSEMA, revealed that the state Government had purchased 5 boats and distribute it to the flood prone communities to evacuate and resettled people in need of aid.
Zachary, stated that life saving jackets and stretchers were also distributed to people at the flood prone communities, adding that the Government procured 45 trucks of grains and other consumables and stuck in a warehouse in case of any emergency as well building materials.
There is high level of allegations by displaced persons over the non accessibility of the relief materials.
He confirmed the involvement of some persons in the diversion of food items donated by the state Government.
He further hinted that the National Emergency Management Agency donated food items, blankets, buckets, sanitary pad, mattreses, salt, seasoning, palm and groundnut oil as well 142 bags rice, maize, and beans to NASEMA meant for the 498 family members mostly women and children of Boko Haram captured by the military.
Zachary Alumaga however said 20 out of the 498 were from Gidan Gada in Amaku community of Nasarawa Local Government, stating that they would be handed over to the Local Government for radicalization, He said women amongst them would be exposed to skill acquisition.
All efforts to contact Chairman, Nasarawa Local Government council, Mohammed Otos before going to press proved abortive.
