Less than a month after the devastating flood in Mokwa, Niger State, which claimed over 200 lives and left a trail of destruction, another flood has struck — this time in Bida, the headquarters of Bida Local Government Area.
The latest disaster occurred on Thursday morning following a torrential downpour that lasted over three hours, tragically claiming the life of a seven-year-old boy, Mohammed Mohammed of Nasarafu Ward.
According to eyewitnesses, the heavy rainfall, which began in the early hours, led to the sudden overflow of waterways, resulting in flash floods that ravaged parts of the town.
Young Mohammed was reportedly sent on an errand shortly after the rain subsided, but he was swept away by the fierce currents before he could return home.
Despite efforts by onlookers and neighbors to save him, no one dared to risk entering the surging floodwaters.
Speaking to journalists, the boy’s father, Malam Mohammed Usman, expressed deep grief over the loss of his son, lamenting that the body was yet to be found.
> “The incident is an act of God, but my pain is that, to this moment, the corpse of my son has not been found.
As soon as the rain stopped, the entire community launched a search and rescue mission, but unfortunately, we are yet to find his body,” he said.
This is the second flood to hit Bida in under two weeks. A previous incident on Saturday, June 14, 2025, caused significant infrastructural damage along the GRA-Federal Polytechnic Road axis.
That flood led to the collapse of several buildings, a bridge, culverts, and various business premises, though no casualties were reported at the time.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Hussaini Ibrahim, confirmed Thursday’s flood but refrained from giving full details, stating:
“The agency is currently conducting an assessment of the situation. After the evaluation, the state government will respond appropriately.”
Meanwhile, residents of Bida have called on the state government to expedite efforts to improve drainage infrastructure and implement proactive flood prevention strategies to avert future tragedies.
With the rainy season far from over, communities across Niger State remain on high alert, fearing further incidents that may result in loss of life and property.
