Tragedy in Niger State as 7-Year-Old Boy Drowns in Flash Flood

A seven-year-old boy, Mohammed Mohammed, has died after being swept away by floodwaters in the Nasarafu Ward of Bida Local Government Area, Niger State. The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, June 26, 2025, following a heavy downpour that lasted from 8:00 am to 11:00 am, triggering a flash flood that inundated homes and businesses in the area.

According to reports, Mohammed was sent on an errand shortly after the rain subsided but was caught in the sudden flood and drowned. His father, Mohammed Usman, speaking in tears to Nigeria News 247, said the boy’s body has yet to be recovered despite extensive search efforts.

“My pain is that, up to this moment I am speaking with you, the corpse of the boy could not be found,” Usman lamented. “Immediately the rain stopped, the entire community embarked on a search and rescue mission, but we have not been able to locate him.”

Residents blamed the ongoing construction of a bypass road by Arab Contractor, accusing the company of diverting the natural drainage path into their residential community. They said the drainage diversion has significantly worsened flooding, causing repeated destruction to homes and shops during heavy rains.

This incident comes just under two weeks after a devastating rainstorm on June 14, which damaged houses, a bridge, a culvert, and multiple business structures in the same community.

The Niger State Government had earlier awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the one-kilometre Man Musa Kodogi–Nasarafu Road in Bida. In light of Thursday’s tragedy, residents have renewed urgent appeals for the government to mobilize the contractor and expedite the project to avert future disasters.

Confirming the incident, Hussaini Ibrahim, Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said the agency is currently assessing the situation. “We are conducting an assessment of the incident. After the findings, the state government will respond accordingly,” he stated.