Severe flash flooding has swept through parts of Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria, claiming the lives of at least 25 people, with 11 others still missing. Authorities say the flooding began Sunday following an intense downpour that inundated five communities surrounding the state capital, Yola.
More than 5,560 residents have been forced to flee their homes as floodwaters washed away houses, farmlands, and personal belongings. The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) has since set up a temporary displacement camp to provide basic relief including food, clean water, and emergency shelter to affected families.
The flooding is the latest in a string of climate-related disasters to hit Nigeria during the 2025 rainy season. Experts warn that climate change is intensifying the region’s weather patterns, with longer dry seasons followed by unusually heavy rains leading to sudden and destructive floods.
“This is not just an isolated incident,” said Mariam Bello, a regional coordinator for the Nigerian Red Cross. “We’re seeing a pattern of increasingly severe weather that is overwhelming the existing infrastructure and emergency response systems.”
In late May, torrential rains triggered flash floods in Mokwa, a farming village in Niger State, killing more than 200 people. The disaster destroyed crops and homes, dealing a severe blow to local food supplies and livelihoods.
According to recent data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over four million people across West Africa were affected by floods in 2024 a threefold increase compared to the previous year.
Northern Nigeria, in particular, has emerged as a high-risk zone, with poor drainage systems, deforestation, and rapid urbanization compounding the effects of climate-driven weather extremes.
Humanitarian agencies are calling on federal and state governments to step up disaster preparedness efforts, including the construction of flood-resistant infrastructure, investment in early warning systems, and improved coordination between local and international relief organizations.
“This is a wake-up call,” said Bello. “Without urgent action, we will continue to see preventable tragedies unfold year after year.”
As rescue efforts continue and missing persons are searched for, residents in affected communities are left to pick up the pieces. For many, the damage is not just physical but deeply emotional.
“I lost everything my home, my farm, and my brother,” said Musa Adamu, a resident of one of the flooded areas. “I don’t know how we will survive this.”
Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant as weather forecasts predict continued rainfall across the region in the coming weeks.