At Least 8 Dead and Many Missing in Devastating Yola Flood in Nigeria

Heavy rains have swept through Yola, the Adamawa State capital in northeastern Nigeria, causing a devastating flood that residents have described to HumAngle as the first of its kind.

The rain began around 1 a.m. and intensified as the hours passed. By 3 a.m., walls and houses had begun to collapse, with water sweeping into homes in the Shagari and Sabon Pegi areas. 

HumAngle visited the affected communities and found locals carrying their luggage and children so they could reach the highlands.

While some residents blame the flooding on heavy rainfall, others argue that it was caused by water released from a dam in the Bole area, located just a few kilometres away from the affected communities.

Adamawa had been earlier identified as one of the states in Nigeria likely to be affected by flooding in 2025. Following this, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Adamawa State government, conducted a sensitisation exercise in May to address the 2025 flood risks and promote coordinated responses to mitigate climate change effects in the state.

People living in flood-prone areas were said to be most affected. In Shagari phase 2, some of the access roads are also flooded. Pam Bature, a resident of the community, told HumAngle that the rain caused severe damage across the area. 

“We heard that homes were getting flooded around that time [3 a.m.], so we came out and saw houses submerged in water. We did our best to carry items within our reach and help people get to safety,” he said. 

Pam mentioned that the police came around 7 a.m. to survey the area. 

“They asked some questions, looked around the area, and left. The Red Cross people also came, but they said their vehicle could not access the area, so they turned around and drove off,” Pam added.

He also noted that while some Shagari residents were able to swim across, others are currently trapped in their houses as they are waiting for the water levels to subside. 

In Sabon Pegi, HumAngle observed that several homes were destroyed and others were submerged in water. While some people are trying to recover items from their flooded homes, others are counting their losses. 

HumAngle spoke to Jared Enock, a resident of Sabon Pegi, who lost a portion of his house in the flood. He explained that his family was woken up by a loud thud, and when he came out, he discovered that it was his wall that had just collapsed. 

“Water began to flow into the house with so much intensity the moment the wall fell. I gathered my children, and shortly after we ran out of the house, the living room collapsed with all our properties inside,” Enoch said. 

Aside from his personal belongings and his gadgets, Jared also lost all his animals, which include chickens and rabbits. He is grateful that his family made it out alive. 

HumAngle learned that two people were swept away in Sapon Pegi. The victims were said to be children whose bodies were recovered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The agency has not yet released a statement about the flooding disaster.

Naomi Wazumtu, another resident of Sabon Pegi Yola, is still in shock. She said she never imagined that what began as an ordinary rainfall could result in a catastrophic flood. 

“My whole house is flooded. My bags of rice, maize, and all the foodstuffs in my store were submerged,” she said, sighing heavily. 

In the Ibunu Abbas community, also known as Yola bypass, the situation is worse. Locals told HumAngle that NEMA officials came with a rescue vehicle and pulled out six dead bodies. 

Four of the bodies were of men who were said to be workers in a bakery. The other two were children found alongside a drainage system. The bodies have been deposited at the morgue in the Moddibo Adamawa Teaching Hospital, Yola. 

On the flooded streets of Ibunu Abbas, people are seen running around, calling out for their children and loved ones who are still missing. HumAngle also observed dead animals on the streets.

While residents across the affected communities are grappling with the tragedy, their basic concern is shelter and food. 

“I’m not just looking for where my family can rest our heads right now,” Jared from Sabon Pegi said. 

Grace Shombolki from Ibunu Abbas, whose entire kitchen was submerged by the flood, says her major concern is food and shelter. 

“NEMA came, carried dead bodies, and left. We are calling on them and the government to come to our aid because we lost everything,” she said.