Soldier, nine others killed in Kebbi flood

The Kebbi State Government on Tuesday confirmed the death of a soldier and nine others in two separate flood disasters that happened in the state.

A statement issued in Birnin Kebbi by Abubakar Dakingari, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Atiku Bagudu, said the flood occurred in two local government areas on Thursday.

Dakingari listed the communities affected as Kanya village in Danko Wasagu Local Government and Mahuta in Fakai Local Government.

He said, “A soldier and nine other people were killed by heavy flood as a result of incessant rainfall in the state; the soldier was said to have died while trying to rescue a woman from the flood.’’

Dakingari said although the body of the woman was recovered, that of the soldier was washed away.

He added that the remains of five victims were recovered at Kanya and three in Mahuta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Bagudu had earlier visited the communities to commiserate with the victims.

At Kanya, the village head, Alhaji Isah Dan Hassan, told the governor that many houses, livestock and farmlands were destroyed by the flood.

He urged government to construct emergency bridge and provide canoes for the immediate evacuation of residents to safer areas.