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By Oscar Okhifo
It was another bad day for Niger state as a devastating flood in the Tunga area of Minna, Niger State, claimed the lives of two young siblings on Tuesday after hours of heavy rainfall submerged parts of Minna, the state capital.
The victims , a nine-year-old girl and her 11-year-old brother , were swept away by tempestuous floodwaters while attempting to cross a drainage channel.
The siblings were said to have been sent by their mother to purchase cooking ingredients shortly before the heavy rain intensified.
Eye-witnesses said they attempted to cross a flooded drainage channel, reportedly on a wooden plank, when the girl slipped and was swept away by the forceful current.
Her brother, who reportedly tried to rescue her, also got carried away by the raging floodwaters.
Residents who witnessed the incident said they were helpless as the water surged violently through the area. “The rain came suddenly and forcefully. Cars had to stop. The current was too strong,” one resident said.
Emergency responders launched a frantic search, and the lifeless bodies of the children were later discovered several kilometers away, trapped beneath a tunnel along Mandela Road.
Officials of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the tragic incident. The agency’s spokesman, Hussaine Ibrahim, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and said NSEMA would pay a condolence visit to the bereaved family.
“The incident is heartbreaking. Our team will be reaching out to the family to provide support. We also use this moment to remind the public to avoid flooded areas during rainfall,” Ibrahim said.
The father of the children, who was invited to the scene, identified both bodies. The victims have since been buried.
The tragedy comes amid growing concerns over recurrent flash floods in Niger State.
You’d recall that just few weeks ago, over 200 lives were lost in the Mokwa flood disaster, which also left thousands homeless after destroyed hundreds of buildings.
Residents in Minna have renewed calls on the state government to urgently address the problem of blocked drainage channels across the city.
Poor urban planning and lack of flood control infrastructure are factors that experts say have continued to contribute to seasonal flood-related deaths.
“We can’t keep losing innocent lives like this every year,” a community leader lamented.
As grief grips the community, residents are calling for urgent Government intervention to prevent further tragedies. Many are demanding long-overdue investments in drainage infrastructure and disaster preparedness, warning that continued neglect could lead to even greater loss of life in future storms.