The Yobe State Government, through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has confirmed the death of one person in a bush fire that gutted farmlands in some communities in the Gulani Local Government Area of the state.

SEMA, via its verified Facebook page, gave the confirmation after its response team carried out an assessment visit to the affected communities.

It also noted that over 90 farmers, who were at the eve of harvest, lost their farmlands to the disaster.

“In the early hours of Tuesday the 30th and 1st of December, 2021; over 90 farmers in Gulani local government who are at the eve of harvest lost their farmlands due to bushfire with one farmer reported dead.

“SEMA response team along with the LGA Chair visited the scene to commiserate with the victims on behalf of the Government and to conduct on the spot assessment”, the agency posted.

It disclosed that five communities, Bularafa town, Makera Village, Makera Fili, Juggolgam as well as Gulani town, were affected.

“While commiserating with the victims, the Executive Secretary of SEMA Dr. Mohammed Goje assured the victims of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s readiness to come to their plights and support them within available resources to cushion the hardship they might encounter after investing everything for this harvest”, it assured.

Gulani is regarded as one of the food baskets of the state, hence many expressed concern that the bushfire which destroyed farmlands in the area may affect crop production this year in the state.