A heavy downpour in Zaria, Kaduna State, has led to a tragic flood that swept away at least three people, including a mother, her three-year-old child, and a commercial motorcyclist.
The incident occurred on Gaskiya Road, near a church in Tudun Jukun, after floodwaters overflowed a roadside drainage channel during a heavy rainfall. Eyewitnesses said the force of the water was so strong that it submerged large sections of the road, catching pedestrians and road users by surprise.
One of the victims, identified as Yusuf Surajo, popularly known as Abba, has been confirmed dead and buried. His body was recovered by local rescue volunteers and handed over to his family. He was laid to rest according to Islamic rites at Kwarin Dangoma after funeral prayers led by Imam Mallam Musa Umar Al-Mishawi. Surajo reportedly sustained a fatal head injury after being swept away by the flood.
Those still missing include Fatima Sani Danmarke, her young child, and a motorcyclist who was transporting them before the tragedy struck. According to eyewitnesses, the motorcyclist was attempting to navigate the flooded road when he hit the edge of the drainage system. The woman, trying to cross on foot while holding her child, lost her balance and fell into the fast-moving water.
“They were instantly carried away by the flood,” said a witness, Mallam Badamasi. “The motorcyclist also lost control and fell in. A good Samaritan tried to save them but was also swept away.”
Locals say poor drainage and blocked water channels contributed to the severity of the flooding. The area is known to flood during the rainy season, but residents say this year’s rains have been particularly intense and dangerous.
Emergency response teams were yet to locate the missing persons as of the time of filing this report. Community members, however, have continued the search using makeshift tools and local knowledge of the area.
The incident has triggered widespread concern and renewed calls for better drainage systems and flood management in Zaria and other flood-prone areas in Kaduna State.
Flooding is becoming a common problem across many parts of Nigeria during the rainy season. Experts blame a mix of poor urban planning, blocked drainage systems, and climate change for the increasing number of casualties during floods.
Residents of Tudun Jukun and surrounding communities are now appealing to the Kaduna State Government and emergency agencies to intervene and prevent further disasters.
“We can’t keep losing lives every time it rains,” said one community leader. “This is a wake-up call for government officials to fix the drainage system and provide early warning alerts.”
