By Abdullahi Lukman
Hundreds of families in Zaria, Kaduna State, have cried out for urgent government and humanitarian assistance following a devastating flood that displaced thousands of residents and destroyed over 270 homes.
The flooding, caused by heavy rainfall between Thursday night and Friday morning, swept through several communities including Magume, Kofar Kuyanbana, Gangaren Mobil, Kamacha, and Bayan Cinema.
Residents described the flood as unprecedented, with water rushing rapidly into their homes and carrying away belongings, food supplies, and even businesses items.
Malam Ibrahim Sani of Kofar Kuyanbana, who lost all his household items, said, “The flood carried everything—mattresses, food, even my children’s schoolbooks. Right now, we are staying in a classroom provided by the local council, but we have no food, no bedding. We are appealing for help.”
Zaria Local Government Chairman Alhaji Jamil Jaga, who led a joint assessment team with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), described the situation as “unprecedented and tragic.”
He called on state and federal authorities to provide immediate intervention.
“We have over 270 houses either partially or completely destroyed and more than 470 children displaced.
It is only by God’s mercy that no life was lost,” Jaga said. “Victims have lost everything—food, clothing, electronics, even important documents.”
The Nigerian Red Cross Society’s Zaria division has begun distributing relief materials, including blankets, mosquito nets, and food items.
However, the organisation’s chairman, Malam Mohammed Suleiman, warned that the scale of the disaster requires more support.
“We have started providing some relief, but it is far from enough,” Suleiman said.
The flooding also submerged farmlands, raising concerns about food security in the affected communities.
Residents are appealing to the government, NGOs, and philanthropists to step up aid efforts as displaced families continue to face severe hardships.