Connect with us

Metro

Nigeria’s Devastating Floods: 49 Lives Lost, Over 41,000 Displaced

Published

on

At least 49 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in Nigeria’s northeast following heavy rains that triggered devastating floods, the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) reported on Monday.

The states hardest hit by the flooding—Jigawa, Adamawa, and Taraba—have seen 41,344 people displaced from their homes, according to NEMA spokesperson Manzo Ezekiel.

This disaster comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with the aftermath of its worst flooding in over a decade, which struck in 2022, claiming more than 600 lives, displacing around 1.4 million people, and ravaging 440,000 hectares of farmland.

“We are just entering into the peak of the season, particularly in the northern part of the country and the situation is very dire,” Ezekiel told Reuters.

The floods have not only caused significant human displacement but also inflicted severe damage on the agricultural sector, with approximately 693 hectares of farmland destroyed. This further exacerbates Nigeria’s economic challenges, as the country battles double-digit inflation, largely driven by soaring food prices.

The impact on farming is especially concerning in the northeast, where farmers are already abandoning their lands due to persistent militant attacks, compounding the region’s food security issues.

Earlier this year, the government’s flood outlook had warned that 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states were at risk of experiencing severe flooding.

“We also have information about the high tide in the upper countries of the River Niger before Nigeria. All of these are flowing towards Nigeria. We are beginning to see a manifestation of our predictions,” Ezekiel added.

In July, NEMA had issued warnings of impending major floods in certain Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State.

During a workshop in Port Harcourt focused on “Downscaling of flood early warning strategies for early actions,” NEMA’s Director of Risk Reduction, Godwin Tepikor, urged local government authorities to take proactive measures to mitigate the flood’s impact.

The agency’s Zonal Director, Babatunde Adebiyi, identified 13 LGAs in Rivers State as high-risk areas, including Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Degema, and Ahoada East and West. The agency is working to prepare these communities for the anticipated flooding.

In addition, NEMA has predicted that eight LGAs in Zamfara State will face moderate flooding during the 2024 rainy season.

According to the agency’s Director-General in Zamfara, Zubaida Umar, these areas include Bugundu, Gummi, Gusau, Bakura, Maradun, Talata Mafara, Shinkafi, and Zurmi.

The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), in its 2024 Annual Flood Outlook, has highlighted that 31 states with 148 LGAs are at high risk of flooding, while 35 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 249 LGAs, are considered to be at moderate risk. The remaining 377 LGAs are forecasted to experience low flood risk.

As the rainy season progresses, authorities and communities remain on high alert, bracing for what could be another catastrophic year of flooding in Nigeria.

Comments

Metro

Tragedy strikes Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Five die, eight injured in fiery multiple crash

Published

on

It was a night of sorrow and devastation in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as a horrific multiple-vehicle crash along the Ibadan axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed at least five lives and left eight others injured in a fiery chain collision involving trucks, tankers, and smaller vehicles.

The accident occurred at about 10:00 p.m. on Friday around the Satguru Maharaji Ji Village axis, just before the Ibadan Toll Gate, throwing the busy highway into chaos as flames and thick smoke engulfed the scene.

The crash involved six trucks, including gas tankers and trailer units, two Toyota Hilux vans, and two cars, according to emergency officials who described it as one of the most severe road accidents in recent times on the corridor.

Eyewitnesses said the tragedy began when one of the trucks reportedly suffered brake failure and rammed into another vehicle ahead of it, triggering a chain reaction that quickly escalated into a multi-vehicle inferno.

In moments, several vehicles were trapped in the blaze, while terrified motorists and bystanders watched helplessly as the fire spread across the expressway.

Eight persons were rescued alive with varying degrees of injuries and were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, said the crash was caused by brake failure which spiralled into a massive fire outbreak.

“Upon arrival, we discovered that the accident involved six trucks (gas tankers and trailer trucks) and two cars, resulting in a fire outbreak,” he said.

“Five persons were recovered dead, while eight others were rescued and handed over to the team of the Federal Road Safety Corps led by SRC Adegbite from Toll Gate, Ibadan, for further medical attention at the nearest hospital.”

Firefighters eventually brought the inferno under control after hours of operation, while security operatives and traffic officials worked to clear wreckage and restore movement on the busy expressway.

Normalcy has since returned to the road, but the tragedy has left behind a grim reminder of the dangers of mechanical failure and unsafe haulage on Nigeria’s busiest highway.

Continue Reading

Metro

Family Horror in Daura as Woman, 20, Allegedly Beats Grandmother, 97, to Death

Published

on

A deeply disturbing incident has left residents of Daura Local Government Area, Katsina State, in shock after a 20-year-old woman allegedly killed her 97-year-old grandmother during a family dispute.

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed that the tragic incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026, following an argument between the suspect and her paternal grandmother at their residence.

According to preliminary investigations, the disagreement escalated into violence when the young woman allegedly struck the elderly victim on the head with a wooden chair. The blow reportedly left the nonagenarian severely injured and unconscious.

The victim was later discovered in a pool of blood after the suspect’s father reported the incident to the Sabon Garin Daura Police Station. Police operatives immediately rushed to the scene and evacuated her to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.

Despite efforts by medical personnel, she was confirmed dead by a doctor shortly after arrival.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Katsina State Command, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, said the suspect was arrested in the course of investigation and had reportedly made a confession to the crime.

He added that the suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court upon the completion of investigations, assuring that justice would be served in accordance with the law.

The command also appealed for calm among residents, reiterating its commitment to a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.

Continue Reading

Metro

Photos: Midnight Fire Razes 20 Ibadan Shops, Destroys ₦200m Goods

Published

on

No fewer than 20 shops were razed while goods valued at over ₦200 million were destroyed after a midnight fire gutted a shopping complex in the Dugbe area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The inferno, which started around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, affected the Nigerian Postal Service shopping complex located beside the Dugbe General Post Office.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent on Sunday that the fire was allegedly triggered by an accident involving a Lexus saloon car.

According to residents, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while travelling from the Queen’s Cinema axis towards Iyaganku.

The vehicle was said to have rammed into a giant billboard situated in front of the Nigerian Railway Corporation station in Ibadan before somersaulting and splitting into two.

Witnesses said the rear part of the vehicle, reportedly carrying a Compressed Natural Gas tank and back tyres, detached and rolled into the shopping complex, where an explosion occurred, igniting the fire.

The blaze razed about 20 shops dealing in stationery, computer accessories and clothing materials, leaving traders counting heavy losses.

Men of the Oyo State Fire Service were, however, able to prevent the fire from spreading to the General Post Office and adjoining buildings.

The occupants of the Lexus reportedly escaped unhurt.

Although some eyewitnesses alleged that the occupants were heading towards the Ring Road area before the crash, authorities had yet to officially confirm details surrounding their identities and movement as of the time of filing this report.

When our correspondent visited the scene around 8 a.m. on Sunday, firefighters and security operatives were still at the complex battling the aftermath of the inferno as smoke billowed from sections of the affected structure.

Shop owners and residents gathered at the scene, lamenting the destruction of goods and property.

One of the affected traders, Kingsley Chioma, said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Iyaganku Police Station assured victims that efforts were underway to apprehend the driver.

“We lost goods worth millions of naira to the fire. The DPO assured us that the driver responsible for the incident would be arrested,” Chioma said.

As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Oyo State Fire Service and the police had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

Continue Reading

Advertisement

Entertainment

Advertisement

MegaIcon Magazine Facebook Page

Advertisement

MEGAICON TV

Advertisement

Trending