Family of seven escapes as flood ravages Minna estate

In Niger State, a family of seven narrowly escaped death after floodwaters submerged parts of the Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna last Saturday.

The flood, which followed heavy rainfall that lasted from about 2am to 6am, destroyed property worth millions of naira and damaged several homes.

A resident, Mrs Blessing Afiku, said part of the room where she, her husband and their five children were sleeping collapsed during the incident.

She said the flood swept away 12 of her 15 goats, as well as a sewing machine, clothes and foodstuffs, including bags of rice and maize flour she had processed the previous day.

Another resident, Waziri Mohammed, said floodwater rose to chest level inside his room, while Zainab Ahmed said she and her children were forced to flee after water suddenly surged into their home.

A retiree, Abubakar Gati, said he and other residents sought refuge in a mosque after their homes were submerged, while some of his goats and chickens were swept away.

Residents blamed the flooding partly on the alleged obstruction of waterways by artisanal mining activities and called for urgent government intervention.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency advised residents living close to waterways, canals and riverbanks to relocate to safer locations as a precaution against further flooding.