Two Missing After Floodwaters Sweep Them Away in Kaduna, NEMA and KADSEMA Intensify Search

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), the Kaduna State Fire Service and other emergency responders, has intensified efforts to locate two persons who were swept away while attempting to cross a flooded river following heavy rainfall in Kaduna State.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening after a torrential downpour inundated parts of the Kaduna metropolis, leaving several communities affected by rising floodwaters.

According to NEMA, its Operations Office in Kaduna activated an emergency response immediately after receiving a distress call. Rescue personnel were deployed alongside officials of KADSEMA, the Kaduna State Fire Service and local divers to Hayin Mallam Bello Community in Kaduna South Local Government Area, where search operations began in the early hours of Sunday.

The missing persons were identified as Musa Musa Bawa, 27, a 200-level student of the College of Nursing, Tudun Wada, and Abubakar Ibrahim Muhammad Likoro, 25, an employee of Olam Flour Mills, Kaduna.

Emergency responders, assisted by local volunteers and divers, conducted coordinated search operations throughout Sunday. However, as of the time of filing this report, neither of the victims had been found.

Speaking at the scene, the Head of NEMA Operations Office in Kaduna, Hajia Halima Suleiman, assured residents that the agency and its partners would continue the search until the missing persons were located.

She reaffirmed NEMA's commitment to working closely with all relevant emergency response organisations to sustain the rescue operation, while commending the professionalism, resilience and dedication of emergency workers and community volunteers participating in the search.

Suleiman later visited the families of the missing victims to express the agency's sympathy and encourage them to remain hopeful as rescue efforts continued.

She also used the opportunity to warn residents against attempting to cross flooded rivers, streams and drainage channels during and after heavy rainfall, stressing that such actions often lead to avoidable tragedies.

The NEMA official added that the agency would continue to strengthen public awareness campaigns on flood safety and urged residents to promptly report emergencies to the appropriate authorities to enable swift intervention.

The latest incident comes amid increased rainfall across several parts of the country, with emergency agencies repeatedly cautioning residents to heed flood warnings and avoid taking unnecessary risks during the rainy season.