Nine killed in northern Nigeria floods

At least nine people have been killed and two others are missing following devastating floods in the northern Nigerian state of Jigawa, the authorities there say.

The victims include men, women and children who were travelling in a boat swept away by surging waters.

Dozens of homes and farms have been devastated by the flood which affected at least seven villages in Ringim area, local leaders say.

Hundreds of people have also been displaced.

The flood followed torrential rains in the area on Sunday and the release of water from a major dam by the authorities in neighbouring Kano state.

More than 500,000 people have so far been affected by a series of floods across the country, the Nigerian government says.

The annual rainy season often sparks deadly floods.