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"
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com