From Umar Dankano, Yola
Heavy downpour which resulted to flood in the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, claimed 6 lives and destroyed 1,711 houses in the council. The flood was exacerbated by the collapse of the Wagga Bridge, which connects Borno and Adamawa states, submerging over 1,000 hectares of land.
Ayuba Ladan, Head of Operations at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Yola Office, made this announcement while accompanying Deputy Governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta on an assessment tour of the affected communities. Ladan reported that 10 additional people were injured and 10,264 people were affected by the flood.
Ladan explained that the heavy rainfall in Shuwa overwhelmed local rivers, causing severe flooding and the collapse of the Shuwa Bridge, which links to Gulak. The flood destroyed houses, shops, boreholes, and other valuables in affected areas including Kirchinga, Duhu, Maiwandu, Jahili, Kokohu, Lumadu, Zhau, Palam, Kwambula, Shiware, and Shuwa.
Deputy Governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta expressed the state government’s sympathy and concern over the catastrophic situation caused by the intense rainfall. During her visit to the area, she announced that the state government had instructed the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) to immediately provide necessary relief materials to the victims.
Farauta appealed to the Federal Government for urgent assistance to help alleviate the suffering of the 10,264 flood victims in Madagali Local Government Area. She expressed shock at the extensive destruction and advised the affected families to find solace in their faith.
“I am appealing to the Federal Government and humanitarian donors to support the victims of the Madagali flood,” Farauta said. “The damage is immense, with 11 communities affected by the flood.”
One victim, Hauwa Bukar, a mother of nine, lamented, “Our house has been washed away, leaving only a plot of land behind. We cannot question God for His actions, but we need support from our governments and those who can help.”
The local government, in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross, has set up eight temporary shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs). These shelters are located at Lumadu Primary School, Lumadu Health Care Centre, GSS Shuwa, Central Primary School Shuwa, Christian Secondary School Shuwa, Divine Mercy School Shuwa, Mayo-Wandu, and Lumadu Model Health Care Centre.