Residents of Chikaji in Sabon-Gari Local Government, Kaduna State, have appealed for assistance from the government and philanthropists over the flood that washed away cemetery, houses and properties in the area.
The flood which ravaged the area on Monday, August 26, 2024, was a result of torrential rainfall that lasted seven hours from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Speaking to journalists in Zaria on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the Village Head of Chikaji, Auwal Sani-Dambaba said the flood affected over 200 houses in the area.
He added that the flood washed away parts of the LEA Primary School and desecrated a substantial part of the Ojo Cemetery.
“Currently, the victims took shelter in the neighbourhood but no loss of life during the incident. However, many graves were left open,” the village head confirmed.
While lamenting over the tragic incident, the village head said a day and hours after the flood, there was neither support nor assistance from the government at national or sub-national levels.
In a move to address the immediate challenges of the cemetery, the Chief Imam of Chikaji Central Mosque, Suleiman Liman, said the community had summoned an emergency meeting of wealthy individuals in the area.
The chief Imam added that the emergency meeting would also look into the plights of the flood victims.
Ibrahim Ahmed, One of the victims who was standing on the rubles of the remains of his two-bedroom flat said they were grateful to God Almighty that the flooding occurred during the day time.
According to him, they were evacuating water in the house when a section of the house collapsed, adding, “I didn’t remove anything from the house, because I was busy protecting my kids from the rubles of the building.”
The victim appealed for support and quick interventions from the government at all levels, wealthy individuals and other key stakeholders to cushion the effect of the flood.
Gafai Katsina, a community leader in the area said most of the victims of the flood were now squatting with some residents who were less affected, adding that some married women had returned to their parents pending the stability of the situation.
He listed the worst hit areas along the water canal including Yan-awaki (around Randa Kano) to Chikaji down to Shika Dam.
