Floods displace 17,000 in Kaduna, Katsina- NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency has said roughly 17,000 people were displaced by flooding in Kaduna and Katsina states.

This was disclosed by the Head of Operations at NEMA’s Kaduna office, Suleiman Muhammad, on Tuesday during an assessment of affected communities following the agency’s relief operations.

Muhammad said the floods, which started in late August, prompted the immediate deployment of search-and-rescue teams in coordination with sister agencies.

“Evacuations were carried out in Kigo Road, Bachama Road in Tudun Wada, Rafin Guza, Haliru Dantoro, Nasarawa and other submerged locations,” Muhammad said.

He added that an IDP camp was established on September 13 in Tudun Wada to accommodate displaced families from Bachama Road, with NEMA providing mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, and other essentials to support the state emergency management agency’s response.

Nine communities in Kaduna metropolis recorded 11,919 displaced persons, while Tudun Jukum and Kamacha in Zaria saw 1,644 affected residents.

In Katsina’s Kankia Local Government Area, 3,499 people were displaced across Galadima I, Galadima II, and Gachi communities, according to Muhammad

Muhammad also confirmed three deaths in Kankia but noted there were no casualties in Kaduna or Zaria.

He said damage reports have been forwarded to NEMA headquarters for further action.

Residents who spoke to NAN praised NEMA for its swift intervention, confirming that they received relief items.

The Commander of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Kaduna Branch, Ahmad Tijjani, said response agencies worked jointly from the beginning.

“We rescued 43 households and moved them to the Tudun Wada camp. About 239 houses were affected in that community alone,” he said, adding that minor medical cases such as malaria and diarrhea were promptly treated by deployed medical teams.

Some beneficiaries thanked NEMA but called for long-term measures. Nasiru Suleiman of Bachama Road, noting that flooding has affected the area for over 30 years, urged authorities to dredge waterways.

Rukaiya Muhammad lamented the loss of homes, livelihoods, and small businesses, emphasising the need for early recovery support, while Amanda Stephen, displaced from Kajuru, stressed that victims require more durable assistance as several houses were destroyed.

The NEMA team also visited the office of the senator representing Kaduna Central, delivering additional relief materials for distribution to flood victims in Kaduna South.

In November, NEMA revealed that 433,578 people were affected by flooding across 27 states and 123 local government areas of the country as of November 4, 2025.

Also, 144,790 people were displaced by the floods, while 241 lives were lost.

NEMA also confirmed 839 injuries and 115 persons missing nationwide.

NAN