Flood washes away 500 graves in Niger
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More than 500 corpses were washed away from their graves in a cemetery by a flood in Mariga town of Mariga Local Government Council, Niger State.
According to a resident, Mohammed Aliyu, the Mariga River overflowed its banks towards the cemetery, causing the corpses to be washed from their graves.
He also said villagers awoke in the early hours of Wednesday to find dead bodies floating in the river, adding that some of the bodies are still missing.
He said the district manager contacted the state government and requested immediate action and they responded quickly.
“Government officials responded quickly and this afternoon (Tuesday) around 200 bodies were found. They are still struggling to access the area,” he added.
When contacted, the director general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga, confirmed the incident, adding that he could not confirm the number of bodies carried away by the river.
"It is true that the Mariga River overflowed its banks and washed away parts of the tomb located around the area".
"I went there with the commissioner of works and it is true that corpses were taken away but I cannot give you the number of bodies because the recovery is still in progress," Inga added.
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior express written permission of PUNCH.
Contact: theeditor[at]punchng.com
Please share this story:
More than 500 corpses were washed away from their graves in a cemetery by a flood in Mariga town of Mariga Local Government Council, Niger State.
According to a resident, Mohammed Aliyu, the Mariga River overflowed its banks towards the cemetery, causing the corpses to be washed from their graves.
He also said villagers awoke in the early hours of Wednesday to find dead bodies floating in the river, adding that some of the bodies are still missing.
He said the district manager contacted the state government and requested immediate action and they responded quickly.
“Government officials responded quickly and this afternoon (Tuesday) around 200 bodies were found. They are still struggling to access the area,” he added.
When contacted, the director general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga, confirmed the incident, adding that he could not confirm the number of bodies carried away by the river.
"It is true that the Mariga River overflowed its banks and washed away parts of the tomb located around the area".
"I went there with the commissioner of works and it is true that corpses were taken away but I cannot give you the number of bodies because the recovery is still in progress," Inga added.
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior express written permission of PUNCH.
Contact: theeditor[at]punchng.com
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