The Kebbi State Government on Tuesday confirmed the death of a soldier and nine others in two separate flood disasters across the state.
A statement by Abubakar Dakingari, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Atiku Bagudu issued in Birnin Kebbi, said the flood occurred in two local government areas on Thursday.
He listed the communities affected as Kanya village in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area and Mahuta in Fakai Local Government Area.
“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.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governor Bagudu had earlier visited the communities to commiserate with the victims.
At Kanya, the village head, Isah 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.
During the visit, Mr Bagudu also made a stop over at Waje bridge, where a young man was reported to have jumped to his death.
At Fakai, chairman of the local government, Musa Jarma, said 48 houses and a bridge linking the town to other parts of the state were destroyed.