Flash floods have devastated parts of Niger, Gombe, Borno, and Kebbi states, resulting in at least eight fatalities and widespread destruction. The incidents, which occurred recently, highlight the urgent need for improved flood preparedness and infrastructure.
Gombe State: Four Children Drown
Gombe State has reported the tragic drowning of four individuals in floodwaters. According to Buhari Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the Gombe State Police Command, the incidents took place in Hayin Kwarin-Misau, Bojude, Bajoga, and Difa communities, spanning Akko, Kwami, Funakaye, and Yamaltu Deba local government areas. The victims were identified as children and teenagers who drowned in rivers, erosion sites, and unprotected water channels.
Borno State: Two Women Killed, Homes Destroyed
In Borno State, two women lost their lives in a flood in the Wovi Community of Damboa Local Government Area. The disaster also caused significant damage, destroying several houses in Rumirgo, Askira Uba Local Government Area, and displacing numerous families. Governor Babagana Zulum has extended his condolences to the victims and their families, as conveyed by his media aide, Mr. Dauda Iliya. This incident comes less than a year after another devastating flood in Borno State that claimed many lives and destroyed homes and farmlands.
Niger State: Two Children Swept Away in Minna
Niger State also recorded two fatalities, both children, who were swept away by flash floods in Minna. The bodies of an 11-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl were discovered in a drainage system after heavy rainfall on Tuesday. Reports indicate that the young girl slipped and fell into a drainage channel while returning from the market with her brother. Despite the boy’s desperate cries for help, residents were unable to intervene due to the dangerous water levels and strong currents. The girl’s father later identified her body at a tunnel on Mandela Street, over five kilometers from where she was initially carried away. Tragically, the body of another boy, also a victim of the flood, was found alongside hers.
Hussaine Ibrahim, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), expressed shock over the incident, stating that the agency was not immediately aware of the disaster but would visit the girl’s family in Tunga to gather more details.
Kebbi State: Deputy Governor Assesses Damage in Birnin Kebbi
Following recent flooding in the Rafin Atiku Ward of Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Deputy Governor Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida visited the area to assess the damage. Residents attribute the flooding to heavy rainfall and blocked drainage systems. The deluge destroyed homes, food supplies, clothing, and other personal belongings.
Malam Idris Abdulrahman, an affected resident, shared his ordeal with journalists, stating, “The water entered our house at night. We lost bags of grains, mattresses, and even some parts of the wall collapsed. This has never happened like this before.”
Accompanying the Deputy Governor were SEMA Chairman Bello Yakubu Rilisco, Environment Commissioner Alhaji Musa Mohammad Tungulawa, and Youth and Sports Commissioner Comrade Nura Bala Fingilla. Senator Tafida has directed the Environment Ministry and SEMA to clear blocked drains and provide assistance to affected residents.
