Sa'adu Abubakar Asha is yet to come to terms with the
tragedy that befell him last Sunday night when he lost all eight members
of his family to a flood that swept through Bakin-Iku village in Suleja
Niger State.
Speaking to Sahara Reporters, the 37-year-old tea seller,
popularly known as (Mai Shai) from Monguno Local Government of Zamfara
State, recounted how he watched helplessly as the flood swept away his
six children and two wives.
According to him, when his family’s five-bedroom apartment
became flooded, he urged his wives and children to quickly move out of
the house.
He said the flood’s massive force made it impossible to
escape, adding that his family members were trapped in one room and no
help came their way.
“We started praying Ina Lilahi Bilahi Laina Bilahi Alahi rajiun (“From God we came, from God we return”),” he said.
"I was holding the hand of one my kids and we were covered with water, though I could not see her. At this point I didn’t know the location of my two wives and other seven children because everywhere was dark. One of my wives just had a baby.”
The local tea seller said he found it difficult to maintain
his balance as a result of the flood, adding that he finally disengaged
his hand from his daughter.
"I shouted for help but nobody was around to help me. The water took me out but I was fortunate to hold on to the branch of a tree where I later managed to climb a small rock.”
He explained that he recovered the lifeless bodies of three
children and their mother the following morning, but that other members
of his family had been swept away.
Mr. Asha, who has lived in Bakin-Iku for fifteen years,
urged the government and well meaning Nigerians to come to his aid as he
had lost everything on earth.
Eighteen persons were killed and many houses submerged in
the deadly flood that ravaged four communities in Tafa Local Government
area of Niger State near Suleja.
The Vice-Chairman of Tafa Local Government Area, Samuel
Yaro, blamed the flood on the Bwari Dam that was opened the same night
it rained heavily.
"This water is from the Bwari Dam and there are lots of blockages on the water. As you can see, this spot where we are standing had houses, but they were carried away by the flood. We are still taking inventory of the damage. Concerning death toll, there are a lot of conflicting reports. But for now, most of the survivors are staying with friends and relatives. So far, bodies of three children have been recovered and buried the same day"
Source: Sahara Reporters
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