A torrential six-hour downpour on Sunday left several communities in Adamawa State submerged, with residents—particularly children—reported missing and hundreds of homes destroyed.
The flood, which affected Shagari Low Cost, Sabon Pegi, Modire, and Yolde Pate in Yola South Local Government Area, displaced scores of families. Residents said more than 600 houses were washed away as water surged through the neighbourhoods.
Abubakar Adamu, a resident of Sabon Pegi, recounted the devastation amid tears: “Many lives were lost, especially children. We’re still trying to confirm the exact number of casualties.”
Another victim, John Audu, told PUNCH that his family was asleep when floodwaters broke into their home. “The water came so fast. We couldn’t take anything. My children were asleep when I noticed water in the sitting room and their bedroom,” he said.
The Adamawa State Police Command, working in collaboration with the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Yola, has deployed marine police officers to the affected areas to aid rescue operations.
“Following the downpour, the Commissioner of Police, Morris Dankwambo, directed men of the marine department to relocate to the affected areas for rescue operations,” said police spokesperson Suleiman Nguroje.
While official casualty figures have not yet been confirmed, eyewitnesses say the number of missing persons continues to rise, with children reportedly among the primary victims.
Last week, the Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Celine Laori, had issued an alert, warning residents in low-lying areas to relocate in anticipation of flooding.
Now, with the disaster unfolding, affected residents are pleading for urgent assistance from ADSEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and state authorities to provide food, shelter, and medical support.
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