Five Killed, Dozens Injured in Devastating Yola Flood – NEMA

At least five people have been confirmed dead and 55 others injured following a devastating flood in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday after a torrential downpour submerged several communities, destroying homes, vehicles, and critical infrastructure. Rescue operations were launched immediately by NEMA, in collaboration with the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local volunteers.

NEMA spokesperson Manzo Ezekiel said rescue teams used boats to evacuate residents stranded in hard-hit areas including Shagari Phase II, Sabon Pegi, Modire, Yolde-Pate, Tashan Sani, and Ibnu Abbas. The injured victims were taken to Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital and other nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Eyewitnesses described the flooding as sudden and unprecedented, with many families caught unaware while asleep. Several homes were swept away or severely damaged, while roads in parts of the city became impassable.

Though initial reports attribute the flooding to heavy rainfall, some residents allege that the release of water from a nearby dam and blocked drainage systems worsened the impact. Local authorities have begun investigations to determine the full cause of the disaster.

In response, emergency relief materials including food, mattresses, and hygiene kits are being distributed to displaced residents. Temporary shelters have been set up in schools and public buildings across the affected communities.

The flood is one of the most severe to hit Yola in recent years and has sparked renewed calls for urgent investment in flood control infrastructure, environmental planning, and improved drainage systems.

NEMA has advised residents in flood-prone areas to remain on alert as more rainfall is expected in the coming days.