Five confirmed dead, 55 injured in Adamawa floods as 13 bodies recovered in Niger boat mishap; communities devastated, survivors displaced, and fears of disease outbreak grow.
A wave of sorrow and destruction swept through parts of Nigeria over the weekend as two major disasters, a deadly flood in Adamawa State and a tragic boat accident in Niger State, left dozens dead, scores injured, and hundreds displaced.
In Adamawa, at least five people have been confirmed dead and 55 others injured following hours of relentless torrential rain that lashed the state capital, Yola, submerging entire neighborhoods and rendering thousands homeless. The disaster, which struck during the early hours of the day, plunged the Yola North and Yola South local government areas into chaos as homes, roads, and farmlands were overwhelmed by the deluge.
Many residents were caught unprepared as floodwaters surged violently through communities such as Tashan Sani, Shagari Phase II, Sabon Pegi, Anguwan Tabo, Modire, Ummare, Yolde-Pate, Sanda Fadama II, Ibnu Abbas, and the Yola Bye Pass. Desperate families fled in the darkness, many with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In areas like Shagari Low Cost and Sabon Pegi, entire blocks were swallowed by murky waters, forcing survivors to seek shelter in nearby bushlands and emergency camps set up in primary schools.
"The water came like a monster. We couldn’t save anything," said one devastated father. Electricity was cut off as the floods ravaged infrastructure, worsening the plight of residents already struggling with limited access to clean water and basic sanitation.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the casualty figures and said rescue operations were ongoing. Ladan Ayuba, Head of Operations for NEMA in Yola, reported that all 55 injured victims were receiving treatment at the Modibbo Adama Teaching Hospital. He also emphasized that joint emergency efforts by NEMA, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were in full force to offer relief and restore order.
As waters recede in some parts, the full scale of the damage is becoming clear. Farmlands, many of which were close to harvest, were destroyed, raising serious concerns about a potential food shortage in the weeks ahead. "This will affect the harvest. People are terrified," a resident noted. The looming threat of disease also casts a shadow over relief efforts, with stagnant water and poor hygiene conditions increasing the risk of cholera and typhoid outbreaks.
Meanwhile, in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, a separate tragedy unfolded on Saturday as a passenger boat carrying traders to the Zumba weekly market capsized near Kwata village. Thirteen bodies have been recovered, while several others remain missing.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the incident, stating that of the 39 passengers on board, 26 have been rescued. The 13 recovered victims, including eight women, three men, and two children, have already been buried by local customs. The cause of the accident has not been officially determined, though initial reports from eyewitnesses point to overloading and poor enforcement of safety protocols, a recurring issue on market days.
“The scene was chaotic. Bodies and goods were floating everywhere,” said a villager who participated in the rescue operation. Survivors recounted the horror of watching fellow passengers drown as the boat capsized suddenly at around 11:45 a.m. Local divers and volunteers continued the search late into the night, hoping to find more survivors or retrieve missing bodies.
Despite repeated interventions by government bodies such as the National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Niger State Government, which included the distribution of life jackets, compliance with safety measures remains alarmingly weak.
In the wake of both disasters, affected families now face the twin burdens of loss and uncertainty. Humanitarian agencies have called for urgent support to prevent further tragedy as displaced persons struggle with trauma, food insecurity, and exposure to disease. Authorities continue to urge calm while intensifying efforts to address the immediate needs of survivors and restore a sense of normalcy in the devastated regions
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