By John Moses
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that five people have died and 55 others sustained injuries following a devastating flood in parts of Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Mr. Ladan Ayuba, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Yola office, disclosed that the injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital.
The Cabal reports that the flood occurred in the early hours of Sunday after a heavy downpour, submerging houses and displacing residents across multiple wards in the city.
Communities worst affected by the flooding include Tashan Sani, Shagari Phase II, Sabon Pegi, Anguwan Tabo, Modire, Ummare, Yolde-Pate, Sanda Fadama II, and Ibnu Abbas, where boats are now being used for rescue operations.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with officials from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) working in collaboration with NEMA to evacuate stranded residents.
Ali Adam, a resident of Yolde-Pate, expressed appreciation for the swift intervention of emergency responders. He described the flood as unprecedented in the area and called on the state government to investigate a company allegedly involved in mining activities nearby.
According to him, the flooding may have been worsened by a dam constructed by the company, suggesting the water overflow was not solely from rainfall.
Another resident, Yakubu Musa of Modire, urged the government to replace a major culvert in the area with a bridge capable of handling heavy water flow. He also called for the clearing of blocked waterways caused by local rice farming activities.
Meanwhile, many displaced residents have begun taking refuge in emergency shelters, including primary schools, as the state government continues to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate relief efforts.
