Gov. Fintiri, Victims at Odds Over Cause of Devastating Yola Flooding
A fierce debate has emerged in Adamawa State following a deadly flood that swept through parts of Yola, with residents blaming a nearby dam while the state government attributes the disaster to natural causes.
The flooding, which occurred over the weekend of July 27–28, left at least five people dead and 55 others injured. Homes, shops, and infrastructure in areas such as Yolde-Pate, Modire, Sabon Pegi, and parts of Yola North and South were submerged. Many residents were displaced, with some seeking refuge in public shelters.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who visited affected communities and displacement camps, dismissed claims that the flooding was caused by dam activity. Instead, he attributed the disaster to torrential rainfall and inadequate stormwater drainage, calling it an act of nature beyond immediate control.
He emphasized that the state had already begun deploying rescue teams and emergency supplies and pledged that long-term solutions, including improved urban drainage systems, were underway.
“The government is doing everything possible to respond swiftly. What happened was a natural occurrence brought on by heavy rains and poor water channeling, not any dam failure,” Fintiri said during a visit to the camp at Aliyu Mustafa College.
However, many victims and local community leaders insist that a private dam—allegedly built by a mining company in the area—exacerbated the flooding.
According to them, water overflow from the dam, combined with blocked drainage and poor town planning, turned what should have been manageable runoff into a disaster.
One resident of Yolde-Pate said, “This was more than just rain. Water rushed in from the direction of the dam. If nothing is done, it will happen again.”
In response to the rising tension, the state government announced the formation of a technical committee made up of officials from the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), engineers, and environmental experts. The committee has been tasked with determining the precise cause of the flooding and recommending measures to prevent future incidents.
As rescue operations continued, the state deployed marine units and partnered with Red Cross and security agencies to aid stranded residents. Boats and emergency supplies were delivered to affected communities, and medical teams treated victims at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital.
The situation has drawn national attention, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and several political figures expressing concern over the scale of the destruction and the need for proactive flood control measures. In response, the Fintiri administration pushed back against accusations of negligence, pointing to recent government investments in flood infrastructure and early warning systems.
The technical committee’s findings are expected in the coming weeks and will likely shape the state’s flood preparedness and policy response going forward. For many Yola residents, however, the more urgent concern remains rebuilding homes, recovering livelihoods, and ensuring that accountability is not swept away with the floodwaters.
