The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Sunday Abdu, disclosed this to The PUNCH in Jos on Monday, after he led members of his team and other stakeholders to assess the situation of things in the affected communities.
Abdu, who said flood is a natural disaster, said the incident was triggered by human activities.
Abdu said, “We have just gone round the communities and discovered that it is the same old story of buildings along the water way, blocking the water way, erection of illegal structures and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
“These are the indices that triggered the overflow of water in the area. Of course it is a natural disaster but because of these blockages, it is man-made, resulting in the flood.
“From our report, the flood carried three children but the people were able to save two of them and one was not found. That is the situation, so, it’s not true that three persons died as a result of the flood.”
The SEMA boss, however, tasked the state regulatory agency to brace up for the challenge of illegal structures.
He also warned residents to desist from building on waterways in their own interests.
The PUNCH reports that about 100 households were displaced by flood in some communities including Anguwan Rogo, Rikkos, Bauchi Road and Naraguta communities in Jos North LGA of Plateau State following a downpour which lasted from Saturday through Sunday.
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