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A tragic flood has devastated the community of Tiffin Maza in Mokwa, Niger State, leaving many families in tears. One survivor, Adamu Yusuf, 36, shared his heartbreaking story after losing his wife, newborn baby, and nine relatives.
According to Adamu, the flood struck in the early hours of May 29, catching his family off guard. “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,” he 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.”
Adamu explained that his wife had only just returned home a day before the tragedy, after staying with her parents following childbirth. Now, he owns nothing but the clothes a friend gave him.
The death toll from the disaster has continued to rise. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed 151 deaths by Saturday, but by Sunday, local officials said the number had climbed to over 200. A terrible smell hangs over the community, believed to come from bodies buried in the mud.
In nearby Anguwan Hausawa, 19-year-old Isa Muhammed said his teacher and eight family members were swept away. Only two bodies—a baby and an adult—have been recovered.
Another survivor, Ramat Sulaiman, 65, tearfully recalled how over 100 children from a Quranic school drowned. “The children cried for help, but the building collapsed and swept them away,” she said.
Some residents believe the flood was not caused by rain but may have been triggered by the sudden release of water from the Kainji Dam. “The rain had already subsided. Suddenly, I saw water rushing down, scattering everything,” said Muhammed.
Salihu Suleiman said he lost everything. “I came out with only my singlet and boxers. Not even my phone,” he said. “This is not ordinary rainwater.”
AbdulGafar, another victim, said, “We’ve not had it this bad. We’ve been experiencing erosion, a serious one of that.”
The community is now left picking up the pieces, hoping for help from the government and kind-hearted individuals.
