Rain storm renders five constituencies in Plateau homeless

The Kantana and Dengi Constituencies in Kanam Local Government Area of Southern Plateau State and three other constituencies in the Northern Senatorial District of the state are now counting loses as a result of the heavy rain storm that wrecked havoc in the areas.
At least 200 houses are badly affected by flood disaster in Dengi, Kantana, Riyom,  Irrigwe, Rukuba and Pengana constituencies of Plateau State.
This was disclosed at the Tuesday at the plenary of the Plateau State House of Assembly when the Member representing Dengi Constituency, Hon. Saleh Shehu Yipmong, under issues of public importance told lawmakers that the heavy downpour, which lasted several hours, wrecked havoc in Kanam Local Government Area.
Yipmong lamented that over two heads of families were rendered homeless without shelter.
The communities included Bagyar, Rumji, Kyamsandi and some villages in Kantana.
He appealed to public spirited individuals and state and federal agencies to come to their rescue and provide succour to the affected communities.
He called on the National emergency Management Agency and the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency to, as a matter of urgency, live up to their responsibility of assisting the victims of natural disaster.
Yipmong stressed that on April 6, 2016, there was heavy rain storm, which uprooted economic trees, killed birds and displaced residents.
According to him, when he paid oversight visit to these victims of rain storm, they were without foodstuffs to cater for their immediate needs.
He added that public facilities like schools and health care were not spared by the flood disaster and people are now begging for help.
At the same plenary, the member representing Riyom Constituency, Hon. Daniel Dem, said as his constituency was beginning to enjoy peace, a natural disaster, the rain storm, visited, affecting many houses.
Dem pleaded for the assistance of local government, state and federal agencies in charge of internally displaced persons to provide relief materials to them.
In the like manner, member representing Rukuba/Irrigwe in the state House Assembly, Hon Simon Kudu, also reported that his constituents – Rukuba/Irrigwe and Pengan – all in Bassa Local Government Area of the state, were worst hit by the rain storm.
In their contributions, members expressed sympathy with the affected communities and appealed to government to pay particular attention in the funding of government’s emergency agencies so that they could be up and doing in responding to their statutory responsibilities, especially in responding to emergency issues.
They have also tasked the Ministry of Information, SEMA, NEMA, Ministry of the Environment to sit up and constantly educate the public on the need to maintain safety roles.
On his part, Hon. Ibrahim Baba Hassan emphasized the need to sustain the existing peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.
Hassan called on state government to embark on a visit to the affected local government areas and provide help to the victims whose properties are destroyed by rain storm .
Hassan sympathized with those families who lost their beloved members as a result of ugly incident, adding that churches, mosques and hospitals were destroyed.
The plenary, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adamu Gagdi, resolved and directed that the Clerk of the House should write and communicate to the agencies involved and the government to visit and send succour to the affected communities.