By Aisha Maikudi Abdulkadir
A devastating flood has wreaked havoc across communities in Bodinga and Shagari Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, submerging thousands of farmlands, destroying houses, and ravaging a local market.
The disaster, which occurred on Thursday, August 14, 2025, affected Badau village in Darhela Ward and Butuku in Toma Ward of Bodinga LGA, as well as the Dandin-Mahe community of Shagari LGA.
According to reports, more than 3,000 farmlands were destroyed in Badau and 75 farmlands in Butuku, leaving hundreds of households in despair.
Confirming the development on Sunday, a joint assessment team from the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency’s Sokoto Operations Office visited the affected communities to ascertain the extent of the damage.
The delegation, led by SEMA’s Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Malam Mustapha Umar, and NEMA’s Planning Officer, Tukur Abubakar, paid a courtesy call on Ibrahim Buda, Sarkin Yamman Badau, who later accompanied them to inspect the submerged farmlands.
Describing the situation as “devastating,” Sarkin Yamman Badau said farmlands, houses, and livelihoods were badly hit. He appealed for urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments.
Speaking during the visit, Umar noted that the ongoing road construction by Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration had helped reduce the scale of destruction.
“If not for the road project around the community, the devastation would have been much worse,” he stated.
In Dandin-Mahe of Shagari LGA, the team inspected flood-ravaged areas, including Shiyar Taba, Dandin-Mahe Market, 75 farmlands, and several damaged houses. They were received by Councillor Sanusi Dandin-Mahe and Shehu Karoga, Councillor for Social Development (Sanyin-Nawal Ward), who guided them through the affected areas.
However, tragedy struck when a building collapsed during the flood, killing a seven-year-old boy, Jafar Sani, son of 37-year-old Sani Lumu.
“The building collapse claimed the life of little Jafar, while two of his siblings, Ummu Ayman and Dawuda Abubakar, sustained injuries,” residents told reporters.
On behalf of the Sokoto SEMA Special Adviser, Umar expressed condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured children.
The team further assured the communities that their findings would be forwarded to relevant authorities to ensure prompt humanitarian response, while also emphasising the urgent need for relief interventions to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
Punch