The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that five persons lost their lives and 55 others sustained injuries following severe flooding in 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 flood, which occurred early Sunday morning after heavy rainfall, submerged residential areas in several wards of the city. Affected communities include Tashan Sani, Shagari Phase II, Sabon Pegi, Anguwan Tabo, Modire, Ummare, Yolde-Pate, Sanda Fadama II, and Ibnu Abbas, where boats are being used to evacuate stranded residents.
Rescue operations are being carried out by officials from NEMA in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Residents have raised concerns over the root causes of the flooding. Ali Adam, a resident of Yolde-Pate, thanked emergency workers for their swift response but alleged that a nearby company’s dam—constructed for mining activities—worsened the flood.
“This is the worst we’ve seen. The rain was heavy, but we believe the dam overflowed and contributed to the destruction,” he said, calling on the state government to investigate the matter.
Yakubu Musa, a resident of Modire, urged authorities to replace a major culvert in his area with a bridge to improve water flow and mitigate future disasters. He also blamed blocked waterways caused by rice farming activities for the flood’s intensity.
Many displaced residents have now sought shelter in emergency camps and public schools as assessments continue.
