Tragedy struck Gandun Sarki community in Malam Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State after a devastating night-time downpour triggered flooding and the collapse of several buildings, killing two children and leaving several residents injured and homeless.
The heavy rain, which lasted for more than an hour on Thursday night, swept through parts of Hadejia Senatorial District, destroying homes, flooding farmlands and forcing families to flee for safety.
Residents said more than 20 houses collapsed during the storm, while several others were submerged or surrounded by floodwaters.
The disaster turned particularly tragic when a residential building collapsed in Gandun Sarki while occupants were asleep, trapping members of a family beneath the rubble.
The father of the victims, identified as Sama’ila, said his two children, aged five and eight, died after the room in which they were sleeping collapsed.
“My two children, aged 5 and 8, died in the incident. Other female members of the family were rushed to Hadejia General Hospital,” he said.
He added that the injured family members were receiving treatment at the hospital.
Residents said the rain began late at night, catching many families in their homes before floodwaters began spreading through the community.
One of the affected residents, Sani Abubakar, said his entire house was destroyed, leaving his family without shelter or essential belongings.
“We have lost everything. Government should please help us with shelter and relief materials,” Abubakar appealed.
Community leader, Malam Jamilu Bulama, confirmed the scale of the destruction and said efforts had begun to document those affected for onward transmission to the relevant authorities.
“I had ordered my aides to compile a full list of those affected in Gandun Sarki and nearby areas,” Bulama said.
“The names of all victims will be documented and forwarded to the appropriate authorities,” he added.
Bulama said the disaster could have caused even greater devastation but for drainage channels and culverts constructed by the Jigawa State Government last year.
“Those structures helped channel some of the water and reduced the impact in parts of the community,” he said.
Despite the infrastructure, the scale of the rainfall overwhelmed parts of the community, leaving several houses damaged and families searching for temporary accommodation.
The Hadejia Zonal Public Relations Officer, Musa Muhammad, also confirmed the incident, saying authorities were aware of the casualties and destruction.
“The incident happened in Gandun Sarki, Malam Madori LGA during Thursday’s heavy rain. We are aware of the casualties and damage to houses,” Muhammad said.
He added that the zonal office was monitoring developments in the affected area.
As of Friday evening, the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency had yet to issue an official statement on the flooding and building collapses.
Flooding remains a recurring challenge in Jigawa during the rainy season, particularly in communities situated along waterways and areas where drainage channels are inadequate or obstructed.
Blocked culverts and indiscriminate waste disposal have also been identified as factors capable of worsening flooding by preventing the free flow of stormwater during heavy rainfall.
For residents of Gandun Sarki, however, attention has shifted from the destruction to immediate humanitarian needs, as families who lost homes and belongings await assistance from government and emergency agencies following a night of tragedy.
