- I thought my children and I would be swept away -Survivor
Behind the statistics of residents displaced in the recent devastating flood that ravaged Zaria and Sabon Gari local government areas of Kaduna State are tales of survivors who lost their homes and means of livelihood, and even the dead who were rattled in their graves, ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports.
Like every other day, residents of Zaria and Sabon Gari had their plans for Monday August 26. But their plans were shattered by what was initially thought to be a regular rainfall, which later turned out into a massive flood that unsettled everywhere.
The terrestrial rainfall had begun around 5 am, lasting more than seven hours and leaving hundreds of houses and businesses premises submerged. The Hanyi-Ojo Cemetery was not spared as the submerged graves collapsed, leaving buried bodies exposed.
Residents expressed fear that the destruction of the cemetery might have resulted in the contamination of surrounding areas, posing further challenges for the community in terms of health and sanitation.
The Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), Dr Usman Hayatu-Mazadu, said the flood wreaked havoc in spite of the state government’s measures to mitigate its impact, including de-silting drainage systems and conducting sensitization campaigns.
He stated that despite predictions and warnings, some residents refused to relocate from the flood prone areas, leading to the displacement of more than 200 households in Zaria and Sabon-Gari LGAs.
While the affected residents lamented their losses, they had reasons to thank God, because the effect of the flood would have been fatal if it had happened in the middle of the night.
While they awaited the official rescue teams from the government, youths of Chikaji in Sabon Gari Local Government Area swung into action, going from house to house in search of trapped occupants. With ropes and ladders, many were rescued.
Victims were left in tears as they watched their houses submerged by flood and property worth millions of naira washed away.
One of the victims, whose two-bedroom apartment was destroyed by the flood, Malam Ibrahim Ahmed, said he and his household were grateful to God that the flood occurred in day time.
Narrating his ordeal, Ahmed said: “Kvwas was already awake when the rain started. I took it for the normal rain, though I didn’t go to the mosque to observe the early morning prayers.
“So, after praying at home, I felt like since it was still raining, I should just sleep again. Then, I noticed that water was rushing into my house from only God knows where.
“We were evacuating water from the house when a section of the house collapsed.
“I could not take anything from the House. I was more concerned about protecting my kids from the rubble of the building,” he said
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He however appealed for support and quick intervention from the government and key stakeholders for himself and other victims.
Another victim, Aisha Musa in Tudun Wada, Zaria recalled how the force of the water prevented her and her children from fleeing their submerged house, saying that, they thought they would be swept away like the belongings.
According to her, “I was at home with my children when the waters started rising. We tried to flee, but the currents were too strong. We were trapped, watching as our belongings were being swept away.
“My children were crying, and I thought we would lose everything. Neighbours helped us to escape, but our home is gone.
“We are now living with relatives, struggling to start afresh,” she said.
Abubakar Sani, a trader in Sabon Gari Market, said he lost everything he had worked for in a twinkle of the eye, saying that his greatest fear is how he will continue to feed his family.
“I have lost everything: my business, my savings, my future. I had just restocked my shop when the floods came. All my goods are gone. How will I provide for my family now?
“We’re relying on the kindness of strangers to survive.
‘The market was our livelihood. The flood left us with a sea of mud and debris.
Narrating her own experience, Fatima Mohammed, Anguwan Kaura, Zaria said: “I was separated from my family during the chaos. I thought I was going to lose them forever until I saw my children being carried into safety by neighbours.
“Thereafter, we were relocated to a makeshift camp. It was not easy, but we are grateful to be alive.
“The community has come together to support each other. We will rebuild our homes, but it will take a bit of time,” she said.
A 70-year-old Umar Abdullahi of Ungwan Chicano, Sabon Gari said he had never seen anything like this year’s flood in his entire lifetime.
He said: “The waters rose so fast, sweeping away everything. I lost my home, my farm and my livestock.
“I’m now living with my son, but I worry about the future. How will we recover from this?
“The government needs to help us rebuild and provide support for farmers like me.”
A community leader in Chikaji, Alhaji Auwal Sani-Dambaba said the flood affected more than 200 houses in the area, adding that it washed away parts of the LEA Primary School in the area and substantial part of the Hayin-Ojo Cemetery.
“Many graves were left open, while the victims took shelter in the neighborhood. There was no loss of life during the incident,” the community leader said.
