Flood hits Taraba State
A relentless downpour in the early hours of Thursday has unleashed catastrophic flooding in Kunini, a cluster of communities in Taraba State’s Lau Local Government Area, submerging homes, destroying crops, and claiming livestock.
The disaster has displaced hundreds of residents and caused millions of naira in damages to household properties.
Visiting the affected area, our correspondent witnessed the scale of destruction, with floodwaters ravaging homes and livelihoods.
Taraba State Commissioner for Urban and Rural Development and a native of Kunini, Peter Julius, described the crisis as unprecedented.
“The flood is massive and ongoing. We’re scrambling to rescue people and save what we can. Properties worth millions have been destroyed, livestock swept away by the water. Our immediate priority is relocating women and children to safety. This is a devastating time for our people,” Julius said.
A community leader in Kunini, Yohana Kwana, expressed shock at the flood’s intensity, noting it was unlike anything the area had experienced in its history.
“For over a hundred years, we’ve lived here. Water would come but always flowed through channels, never overtaking our homes like this.
The flood caught us off guard at dawn,” Kwana recounted in Hausa.
He added, “Our crops are gone, our animals drowned, and our food supplies ruined. Life will be unbearable without help. We urgently appeal to the federal and state governments, as well as kind-hearted individuals, to come to our aid.”
The flooding, described as a first-of-its-kind disaster by locals, has left the communities grappling with the loss of their livelihoods. With crops washed away and food stocks destroyed, residents face an uncertain future.
Authorities and community leaders are now calling for immediate intervention to provide relief and support recovery efforts in Kunini.
