Persistent downpour has rendered hundreds of people homeless in Jakusko town of Yobe State in northeast Nigeria.

The torrential rain, which has been incessant in the past few days,  destroyed properties and washed away many farmlands.

Residents of the area say more than 200 houses were destroyed, while pleading for urgent assistance from government and other non-governmental organisations.

The Yobe State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajara Lawan, in a sympathy visit to the area described the situation as disastrous and pathetic.

She said that the state government through the relevant agencies would assist the affected individuals, and urged other well-meaning individuals to respond immediately in helping the victims who were mostly peasants and in dare need of urgent intervention.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has swiftly responded by commencing an assessment tour of the flood area to appraise the level of  destruction with a view to alleviating their sufferings.

Nahuta Abubakar, acting Field Coordinator of NEMA in Yobe State, assured that the displaced persons would soon get assistance from the agency.