The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that five persons lost their lives and 55 others sustained injuries following a devastating flood that swept through parts of Yola, the Adamawa State capital, in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the Head of Operations at NEMA’s Yola office, Mr. Ladan Ayuba, the injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the Modibbo Adama Teaching Hospital.
The flood, which followed hours of intense rainfall, submerged homes and displaced hundreds across several wards, including Tashan Sani, Shagari Phase II, Sabon Pegi, Anguwan Tabo, Modire, Ummare, Yolde-Pate, Sanda Fadama II, and Ibnu Abbas. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with emergency personnel using boats to reach affected residents.
NEMA is coordinating the rescue operations in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Ali Adam, a resident of Yolde-Pate, expressed gratitude to the emergency officials for their timely intervention but blamed the flooding on a dam allegedly constructed by a mining company in the area.
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“This is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” he said, appealing to the state government for urgent intervention.
Another resident, Yakubu Musa of Modire, called on the government to upgrade an overstretched culvert in the area into a proper bridge and clear waterways obstructed by rice farmers.
As of Sunday evening, many displaced residents had taken shelter in emergency camps and nearby primary schools, with relief efforts underway.