By Atoyebi Nike
The Yola Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has led search, rescue, and evacuation operations after severe flash floods submerged 13 communities across Yola North and Yola South Local Government Areas of Adamawa State on Tuesday.
The downpour, which began around 4 a.m. and lasted until noon, inundated worship centres, residential homes, and business premises, displacing thousands of households in communities such as Damilu, Jambutu, Bachure, Runde, and Shinko. Many families were forced to take shelter along major roads.
This disaster comes just two months after similar flooding claimed more than 30 lives in the state. The Federal Government had earlier warned that Adamawa and 10 other states faced heightened flood risks between September 14 and 18.
Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Dr. Celine Laori, described the situation as devastating but confirmed that no casualties had been recorded. “My office, the police, fire service, and other security agencies are all carrying out rescue operations now in the affected areas,” she said.
Police spokesperson SP Suleiman Nguroje said the command had deployed its marine unit to support rescue missions. Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, also visited affected areas including Limiwa, Rumde, Shinko, and Jambutu to assess damages and assure residents of assistance.
On its official X handle, NEMA confirmed that rapid-response teams had evacuated vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, to temporary shelters. The agency said assessments were ongoing to determine the scale of destruction and humanitarian needs while coordinating relief efforts with state authorities and partners.
