- Odibo Victory
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) have launched a search and rescue operation for two persons swept away by floodwaters in the Kaduna River.
The operation, which began early Sunday at Hayin Mallam Bello community in Kaduna South Local Government Area, involves the Kaduna State Fire Service, local divers and other emergency responders.
According to reports, the victims were swept away on Saturday evening while attempting to cross the swollen river after heavy rainfall in parts of the Kaduna metropolis.
The Head of NEMA Operations Office in Kaduna, Hajiya Halima Suleiman, said the agency activated its emergency response team immediately after receiving a distress call.
Suleiman said the emergency personnel and local divers had searched the river for several hours but had yet to locate the victims as of the time of filing this report.
The missing persons were identified as 27-year-old Musa Musa Bawa, a 200-level student of the College of Nursing, Tudun Wada, and 25-year-old Abubakar Ibrahim Muhammad Likoro, an employee of Olam Flour Mills, Kaduna.
Suleiman assured residents that the search operation would continue until the victims were found.
“We will continue the search operation until the missing persons are found. NEMA, in collaboration with other emergency response agencies, remains committed to sustaining the operation until its objective is achieved,” she said.
She commended emergency responders and local volunteers for their dedication to the rescue effort.
“I commend the dedication, professionalism and resilience of all emergency personnel and local volunteers participating in this search and rescue mission,” Suleiman said.
Suleimsn disclosed that she had visited the victims’ families to express the agency’s sympathy and encourage them to remain hopeful.
She also urged residents to avoid crossing flooded rivers, streams and drainage channels during and after heavy rainfall, stressing the need to promptly report emergencies to the appropriate authorities for timely intervention.
Suleiman added that NEMA would continue its flood safety awareness campaign to reduce the risk of drowning and other flood-related incidents.