Some two million people have been displaced in a northern state in Nigeria after authorities opened the floodgates on two swollen dams in a neighboring state.
Officials said on Friday that water from the Challawa and Tiga dams also destroyed about 90,000 hectares (222,400 acres) of farmland in the state of Jigawa.
"We have about two million people affected," said Umar Kyari, a spokesman for the state governor. Jigawa is home to 4.3 million people.
Kyari confirmed that the flood have left no casualties so far in the state, AFP reported.
Heavy seasonal rains in early August forced the authorities to open the gates of the dams in neighboring Kano state, the official said.
"When the rains became too much they realized the water was too much and opened the dams," he added.
Initial direct economic losses caused by the flood are estimated at 4.5 billion naira ($30 million).
"Over 5,000 villages in 11 of our 27 local government areas were affected," Kyari said.
So far this year, floods have hit several states in Nigeria, which is an oil-rich nation of 150 million in West Africa.
DB/TG/MGH
