Two days of heavy rainfall in Zaria, Kaduna State, between Thursday night and Friday morning, have displaced more than 470 children and destroyed at least 270 homes in several communities.
When reporters visited the affected areas on Saturday, the damage was heartbreaking. Walls made of mud had collapsed, farmlands were flooded, and children sat shivering under makeshift shelters in the cold morning breeze.
“This is the worst flood I have ever seen,” said 70-year-old Mr. Bala from Magume community, whose house was swept away. “The water came so quickly. Before we knew it, it was inside our homes, carrying away food, clothes, even my small provision shop. Now, we have nothing left.”
A joint assessment team visited the communities on Friday. The team included officials from the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and Zaria Local Government.
The team, led by Zaria Local Government Chairman, Mr. Jamil Jaga, toured areas such as Kofar Kuyanbana, Gangaren Mobil, Bayan Cinema in Tudun Wada Ward, Magume, Bako Zuntu, and Kamacha in Tukur Tukur Ward—all badly affected by the floods.
Speaking after the visit, Jaga described the situation as “unprecedented and tragic.” He called for urgent help from both state and federal governments.
“We have over 270 houses either partially or completely destroyed, and more than 470 children displaced. By God’s mercy, no life was lost. But the victims have lost everything—food, clothing, electronics, and even important documents. We are appealing to government agencies, NGOs, and philanthropists to assist quickly,” Jaga said.
Residents said the downpour, which began in the early hours of Friday, was unlike anything they had experienced in recent years.
A mother of four, Hauwa Mohammed from Bayan Cinema, shared her ordeal: “We were asleep when neighbours started shouting. Water rushed in from the back of the house. It rose so fast that my husband had to carry the children on his shoulders. We could not save any of our belongings.”
Another victim, Mr. Ibrahim Sani of Kofar Kuyanbana, said he lost all his household property.
“The flood carried everything—mattresses, food, even my children’s schoolbooks,” he said sadly. “Right now, we are staying in a classroom provided by the local council, but we have no food, no bedding. We are begging for help.”
In the meantime, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Zaria Division, has begun distributing relief materials such as blankets, mosquito nets, and food items to some affected families.
Chairman of the division, Mr. Mohammed Suleiman, said their efforts were limited compared to the scale of the disaster.
“We have started providing some relief, but it is not enough,” Suleiman said. “Many children and women are sleeping in mosques, schools, or with relatives because their homes are gone. We need government, private organizations, and good-hearted individuals to urgently provide food, clothing, and building materials.”
Elsewhere in Kaduna State, another flood displaced many families in Kigo Road Extension, Kaduna North Local Government Area.
The flood, caused by heavy rainfall in the early hours of Thursday, swept through the densely populated community, destroying property worth millions of naira and forcing residents to flee their homes at night.
When reporters visited on Friday, families were stranded by the roadside. Some were drying wet clothes while children huddled under makeshift shelters, waiting for assistance.
One victim, Mrs. Khadijatu Jatau, a mother of nine, recounted how she barely escaped with her children as floodwaters surged into their home around midnight.
Local government officials have started initial assessments to determine the number of displaced families and the extent of the damage.
