A 36 year old man, Adamu Yusuf has narrated how he lost his wife , his new born baby and 9 other family relatives in the early hours of May 29 , when floods hit Tiffin Maza, one of the worst-affected communities in Mokwa,Niger State
Adamu while talking to BBC said he survived the devastating incident because of his swimming experience and watched helplessly as water swept away family members including his wife and newborn baby
Adamu recounted how his wife woke him up as floodwaters surged into their home. “My wife woke me up when the flood came. I quickly gathered my family and told them to hold each other tightly. As we stepped outside, water had already filled the compound,” Adamu told the BBC. “They panicked, and we got disconnected. I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim. It was God that saved me.”
His wife had only just returned home a day before the disaster, after spending weeks at her parents’ house following childbirth. Now, Adamu owns nothing but the clothes he wears—gifted by a friend.
The death toll from the disaster has risen above 200, according to Lical officials while the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA in its earlier reports on Saturday indicated that the death toll was 151 , but by Sunday, it was reported there were over 200 fatalities.
Another survivor, 65-year-old Ramat Sulaiman, tearfully recalled how over 100 children from a nearby Quranic school were lost. “The children cried for help, but the building collapsed and swept them away,” she said.
Many residents insist the flood was not caused by rain. “The rain had already subsided. Suddenly, I saw water rushing down, scattering everything,” said Muhammed. Several believe it was triggered by a release from the Kainji Dam.
“I came out with only my singlet and boxers. Not even my phone,” said Salihu Suleiman. “This is not ordinary rainwater.”
“We’ve not had it this bad. We’ve been experiencing erosion, a serious one of that,” said victim AbdulGafar, who lost everything
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with Niger State Emergency Management Agency ( NSEMA) with support from the community are still conducting search and rescue operations.
