Heavy rains on Tuesday submerged 13 communities in Adamawa State, forcing thousands of residents out of their homes as emergency workers battled to rescue trapped families.
The floods, which swept through Yola North and Yola South Local Government Areas after a downpour that lasted from 4 a.m. to noon, left worship centres, homes, and shops underwater. Families from Damilu, Jambutu, Bachure, Runde, Shinko, and other areas were seen stranded along major roads, some clutching their belongings as they searched for safe ground.
This disaster comes barely two months after a similar flood killed more than 30 people in the state. It also followed a Federal Government warning on Sunday that 32 locations across 11 states, including Adamawa, were at risk of heavy rainfall and flooding between September 14 and 18.
The National Emergency Management Agency said its Yola Operations Office led the rescue efforts, working with state authorities and security agencies to evacuate residents.
On its official X handle, NEMA explained, “NEMA teams conducted rapid on-the-spot assessments to determine the extent of flooding, damage to property and infrastructure, and urgent humanitarian needs. Our teams, working with ADSEMA, the fire services, volunteers, and security agencies, evacuated women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities from high-risk zones to temporary shelters.”
Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Celine Laori, said that no deaths had been reported.
“So far, there is no life lost recorded. My office, the police, fire service and other security agencies are all carrying out rescue operations now in the affected areas,” Laori said.
The Adamawa State Police Command confirmed its marine unit had been deployed to assist. In a statement, its spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, noted that Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, had toured the hardest-hit areas, including Limiwa, Rumde, Shinko and Jambutu.
“The Commissioner of Police… has personally visited some flood-affected areas… to assess the situation for necessary assistance. Members of the public in the affected areas are advised to remain calm, avoid flooded zones, and ensure the safety of their families and property,” the statement read.
As rescue efforts continue, thousands of displaced households remain in temporary shelters, waiting for food, water, and medical support.
