TIMELINE: Over 250 persons killed by flood in four months   

After a terrible flood devastated different parts of Nigeria in 2012, seven million people were affected, over 300 persons killed and 2.1 million displaced. It took some of them months to get back on their feet. Some probably never recovered. It was described as the worst flooding in five decades.

Nigeria is currently experiencing another series of flooding across the states. This, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has affected over 500,000 people in 2022, leading to the death of over 300 persons while as many as 100,000 others have been displaced. 

The increasing impact of climate change has left non-resilient Nigerian communities vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters like flooding.

Before the rainy season began in February and the resultant flooding in June, relevant government agencies had predicted heavy rainfall and warned states to prepare in order to prevent sad incidents. Despite these warning alerts, deaths from flooding have sent communities into mourning. 

In this article, TheCable analyses media reports of deaths caused by flooding within the past four months. 

KANO

June 28: No fewer than five persons were reported dead as a result of floods and windstorms in Kano. The incident recorded in Rano, Kibiya, Doguwa, Dambatta, Kiru, and Tsanyawa areas of the state also led to the destruction of about 3,000 houses.

August 8: Three persons were killed by flood in Ajingi LGA of the state. 495 families also lost their homes the same day.

September 20: The overflow of water from Tiga Dam in Bebeji LGA after a heavy downpour led to the death of 23 persons. SEMA also said over 100 other persons were seriously injured. 

ANAMBRA

July 1: An eight-year-old boy, identified as Izuchukwu, was killed when a surging flood flushed him into a deep gully erosion in Nkpor area of the state. 

LAGOS

July 13: Seven persons died in heavy flooding that occurred in Lagos. Three among the deceased were members of the same family. 

YOBE

July 26: SEMA reported that over 21 deaths were recorded in the flood that devastated the state since the beginning of the rainy season in May. 4,095 households were also said to have been affected.  

August 2: A flash flood caused by a heavy downpour across the state resulted in the death of three persons.

September 17: Flooding in the state led to the death of 11 persons while destroying 180 houses and washing off 752 hectares of farmlands. 

GOMBE

August 1: A heavy downpour in Bajoga town, Funakaye LGA of Gombe state led to the collapse of the walls of a room where two children slept, leading to the death of a three-year-old child, while his two-year-old sibling was critically injured.

ZAMFARA

August 20: A large waterway in the Fira-da Kwaddi community in Gusau was reported to have overflowed and two people drowned in the process. 

KEBBI

August 31: Two persons were killed in Shanga LGA after heavy flooding that submerged over 300 houses in the state.  

BORNO

August 31: Heavy rainfall led to the overflowing of the River Ngadabul in Maiduguri and 15 bodies were recovered from it afterward. 

NIGER

September 3: Flooding in Magama and Rafi LGAs led to the death of seven persons, six in Magama and one in Rafi. Several houses, farms and bridges were also destroyed. 

September 19: Fourteen persons were killed by flooding in Magama, Kontagora, Agwara, Rafi, Lavun, Bosso and Paikoro areas of the state.

BAUCHI

September 7: Ten persons lost their lives during the flooding that happened in Zaki LGA of the state. 

September 10: Three persons were said to have died by flood in Zaki and Gamawa LGAs.  Up to 1,453  houses and several farmlands were also destroyed. 

September 15: Five persons lost their lives during flooding in Jam’are area of the state.  

JIGAWA

Recently, the state emergency management agency announced that the death rate from flooding in the state so far in the year has increased to 98. 

ADAMAWA

September 21: Heavy rainfall accompanied by the release of water from the Lado Dam in Cameroon flooded communities in Adamawa and led to the death of 25 persons.

However, the data presented in this article is not exhaustive of the number of deaths recorded in this period. While 29 states and the FCT have been seriously affected by the flooding, Jigawa has recorded the highest number of deaths.