How we survived Bajoga Flood, survivors narrate ordeal
Chima Azubuike, shares ordeals of flood victims in Bajoga, Gombe State, including efforts of the State Government to forestall a repeat.
Days after the devastating flood of Saturday 30th July 2022, has dried up the reality of its impact gets clearer as victims continue to count losses across Anguwa Wakili mazara, Shara-mansur, Jillahi, bodoriyel in Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government of Gombe State.
30-year-old Fatima Ibrahim, mother of three-year-old Muhammadu Babangida, lost to the collapse of a mud wall is yet to recover from the pains of losing a child even after a week since the devastating effects of rainfall sacked over 50 households, hundreds of persons turned homeless with more than six persons including children recuperating, yet the areas are still wearing mournful look.
Sad tales of a mother
According to Ibrahim, her family woke up bright and healthy with her husband who is a carpenter, who went to the mosque for morning prayers, noting that tragedy occured within the space of two hours into the morning rain.
She said, “Exactly at about 5am on Saturday morning, the rain began to fall but it became very heavy around 7am. Suddenly, the wall of our kitchen area fell on three of them, two others Hussaina and Hajara survived with various degrees of injuries. Our first point of call was General Hospital Bajoga, that was where we admitted them. When we got to the hospital they confirmed him (Babangida) lifeless, treated Hajara and then referred Hussaina to Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe due to the severity of her case.
“While Hussaina sustained injuries around the head region, Hajara was hurt around her legs. The two are recuperating; Hajara, I adopted her due to circumstances in her home, she is at home where she is nursing injuries from the collapsed building and the other one Hussaina Ibrahim, my daughter is now on admission in Abubakar Tafa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi where she is been treated.
“My husband met us at General hospital Bajoga. He felt bad, as a father I’m certain that he didn’t expect it. Someone that woke up with us before leaving for mosque to say prayers only to be told to come to the hospital that his last child had died and others receiving medical attention.”
Read Also:
Bajoga Flood: My daughter in Bauchi hospital needs N500,000 for treatment, says Woman whose son was covered by mud wall
Ibrahim, who is also a petty trader revealed that she would miss the fond memories she shared with Babangida the last of her six children, adding that he was exceptional regardless of his age.
She added, “I will miss the joy I shared as his mother, the love I felt from his personality as young as he was he was very unique as a child, he was healthy and lively. He was my last child but he had a sweet and endearing personality. Some of his siblings were not very free to make choices or to express themselves but Babangida always knew what he wanted and he got it. He didn’t behave like a last born, he was not all clingy but was independently minded for his age. He was very cheerful and obedient.
“I feel very bad, I’m not happy. It can be really sad losing a loved one in a very painful way. It never crossed my mind at any time that Babangida would be lost in such a tragic way, there was no such premonition due to how strong and healthy he was not to mention that we will loss him following collapse of wall induced by flood. The joy of every mother is usually after taking care of your children and they attain adulthood that they would in turn shower you with great love. No parents would be happy to bury a child that is still growing but God knows best.”
Ibrahim, while recalling the incident in visible pains explained that the kitchen wall showed signs of crack only recently, adding that she didn’t expect that it would collapse.
“Where the wall collapsed is the kitchen area. The other side is where we sleep and water was coming into the room and I was busy packing water with bucket that flooded inside the room and they (children) had to excuse me in order to concentrate in emptying the room of water. However, at some point they began to assist in packing the water, it was at the point when they carried water towards the kitchen area, in a bid to empty the bucket that the wall fell. Honestly, I can’t recall the exact time it collapsed, when I came close I began to find them inside the rumble. The mud wall covered them entirely. No plans to demolish the rest of the structure, our attention at the moment is to raise fund to treat my daughter, Hussaina Ibrahim who is currently in the hospital. We built the building using clay and it has been about 15 -20 years now since it was erected. Subsequently, we will decide on what next to do the rest of the structure.”
While soliciting for support, she recounted how doctors wasted time before Hussaina was transferred from Gombe Federal Teaching Hospital to Tafa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
“However, it was after so much delay at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, that the doctors there came out straight that they can’t handle her case. We then took her to Abubakar Tafa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi as directed by those in FTH Gombe. But we need about N500,000 to commence treatment in Bauchi, we have only been able to raise just about N50,000 from contributions from family and friends.
“I will be very grateful if the state government under Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya can come to our aid. No amount will bring about our son, but whatever that they can do to assist us we will be happy, such will go a long way to reduce our pain. I wish to appeal to the state governor to assist us in paying the bills of Hussaina, late Babangida’s sister whose fate is in a balance due to the way she fell with her head. Raising the requested sum by Bauchi hospital authorities has not been easy, we need help to save her from retardation. God forbid that I will have to bury two children from this disaster, so I need as much help as possible to treat her,” Ibrahim added.
Narrating her ordeal 11-year-old Hajara Yuguda, who is currently a primary three student of girl child school said she heard the sound of the collapsed wall but was not able to escape with other part of her body as legs were covered in the mud.
Yuguda said, “I heard the sound of the wall caving in and before I could run away just before two steps from there it fell on my legs. I’m grateful to God that I’m still alive to become a medical doctor in the future.”
More devastating tales from flood survivors
Trip to Bajoga is less than an hour from the state capital and charge used to be N500 but our correspondent observed that due to the bad road the journey lasts for over an hour the fare now takes N700 per trip. Bajoga is along Yobe Potiskum road.
55-year-old Safiya Adamu, revealed how she managed to escape unhurt from the devastating flood.
She said she was lucky to have accommodating neighbours as her apartment was overtaken by flood.
Adamu said, “I knew rain was falling but I didn’t know that it will get to the extent of get into my apartment, from my early morning sleep I noticed my wrapper was getting well and immediately It was like I was dreaming until I opened my eyes and began to call for attention.”
She noted that her farm was also washed away by the flood, “Thanks to God for safety as it could have been worse the water could have swallowed me from my sleep thank God for the neighbours that came to my rescue. Although my farmland was also washed away buy the flood,” Adamu added.
Another resident of Shara-mansur, Zubair Yakubu, said he and his family have been rendered homeless following the flood that occured recently.
77-year-old Yakubu said he was yet to recover from the devastating effects, adding that his stored foodstuffs were drained by flood.
He said, “Usually at the end of the farming season we will store ahead of when the need will arise. I stored foodstuffs in my house and it was affected badly by the sad occurrence. No one can blame God am grateful we made it alive.”
“We (family) had to move to other peoples houses for survival from where we will sleep to what to eat. I have lost quite alot of things but I mentioned earlier I’m thankful to God that it is not worst where I will start burying a loved one. We are appreciative of the relief materials brought by SEMA at least we were able to get something to get without necessarily depending on family friends to feed us,” Yakubu said.
Also speaking, Gambo Zubairu stressed that his plans of getting married in 2022 may not happen as he had planned it, stressing that the flood has taken him backwards by 10 years.
The 19-year-old Zubairu told our correspondent that he enjoyed sleeping, whilst raining was falling. He stated that he was happy when he realised that it was a Saturday and had no plan of going out other than resting.
He said, “I was happy when I noticed from my sleep that it was raining and suddenly I remembered that it a Saturday and I didn’t have any work schedule for the day. All I had in mind was just to sleep, without anyone calling me. Only did I know that it would be a near death experience.
“Before I could sleep further I noticed uneasy cold from no where, of course the rain was falling and everywhere was cold but this one was uniquely different. I felt my bed soaking water from the flood, that when I knew all was not well.”
Upon realising that water had penetrated his home, Zubairu explained that he managed to safe a few things he could.
“I was only able to carry myself, it is someone that is alive that eats food, I just couldn’t wait to be drowned in the flood because it was beginning to gather from nowhere into the room. It was then I began to pray and beg go to allow the rain to stop, so that everywhere can be dried. Just immediately, I realised that the rain I enjoyed hearing the sound from sleep had become a threat to my enjoying my weekend,” Zubairu narrated.
Another victim, Hauwa Muhammad, said she was yet to regain herself as her family was greatly affected by the Saturday flood. She stated that they were yet to bounce back to normal way the family operated.
According to Muhammad, “Alot has changed the rain of that day caused significant damages. It is painful when you see your property get destroyed before your very eyes not that you were told but you could see what is going on. We have been drying our mattresses, we couldn’t use it that day. Ever since the event occurred the foam has been smelling of water.”
The 40-year-old mother of six children revealed that her family members comprising of her children and husband distributed them in two other apartments.
“We couldn’t just stay in one place, we shared ourselves in two family friends residence in order not to inconvenience them with our difficulty. I have six children with my husband and I we are eight in number. Four of us in each of the two houses managed in, eight persons can’t just go to a particular place . My husband and made share we didn’t constitute burden to anyone. Whether or not we ate that was not the problem of anyone of us, all we wanted was just a place to just wake up,” Muhammad explained.
Abdullahi Tukur, reacting to the loss suffered by residents called on government to ensure proper settlement of victims, he said the occurrence was painful but that he would not question God.
Tukur said, “I really feel so much sadness. But everything happens because GOD allowed it. we take it, as it comes but for our own safety we need government to do something about this.”
“Actually, we need government to take necessary action at bajoga if possible because the flood it keeps happening so there is need to solve the problem frontally. The families of Hussaina Ibrahim needs government to help them with her treatment as she is currently undergoing treatment at FTH Bauchi,” Tukur added.
Gombe Government’s intervention
A Government delegation, led by the Commissioner overseeing the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources, Alhaji Shehu Madugu, has visited some communities affected by the recent flood disaster in Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government area.
In his remarks during the visit, Madugu who conveyed Governor Yahaya’s condolences and sympathies over the lives lost and the damages caused by flood in the affected Local Government.
He said, “The essence of our visit today is to primary condole with you over this natural disaster that engulfed your communities as well as assess the level of damages caused with a view to developing an interventional recommendation to government so as to bring succour to the victims.
“His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya would have personally visited you but directed us to be here on his behalf because he travelled outside the State for an official engagement.”
Also speaking, Chairman, Funakaye local government council, Ibrahim Cheldu lauded state government’s responses which he said reduced, “for his prompt response in identifying with the affected communities and assured of his counci’s readiness to support his administration at all times,” Cheldu added.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of Gombe State Emergency Management Agency Abdullahi Haruna, said the agency has completed assessment of what caused the sad occurrence, blaming it on the siting of mud structures around water way.
Haruna said, “The flood happened on 30th July 2022 at that time I was not in Gombe but I directed two of my directors to go on assessment and they went on the 31st of the same month. Then the state government ordered the leadership of His Excellency (Muhammadu Yahaya) directed us to provide relief materials to the flood victims in Bajoga.
“I heard over the radio commissioner for works did a radio link, and he assured that the State Government will look at the cause of the flood in the area. At SEMA, what we can do is to assess and recommend to government and the governor has directed us to take relief materials food and non-food items, while he (governor) provided some token for them in the hospital to take care of their medical treatment. The governor also constituted committee and we have forwarded our assessment report to the government. It about 50 houses that were affected most of the houses are mud houses, we had about five persons injured they were assisted at the hospital and during the assessment we discovered the area was the pathway of water.”
While proffering prayers for their protection, the Executive Secretary urged residents to ensure easy passage of water to ensure the mitigation of causalities.
“Controlling flood is in many ways first you have to consider your drainage around the area. If water comes and your drainage is not open enough to take the volume of water automatically it will flood the area. People in the whole state not just Bajoga, should take care of their environment they plant trees and engage in regular cleaning of their surrounding.
“I will pray to Almighty Allah, you can’t do without disaster in a community, it comes once every year or twice every year, so we are praying to Almighty Allah to protect us, the state government very likely may provide more succour,” Haruna added.
On Wed, Aug 10, 2022, 11:33 PM CHIMA AZUBUIKE <azubuikechimaobi@gmail.com> wrote:
Gombe residents recount how flood wreaked havoc in their Bajoga community
Chima Azubuike, shares ordeals of flood victims in Bajoga, Gombe State, including efforts of the State Government to forestall a repeat.
Days after the devastating flood of Saturday 30th July 2022, has dried up the reality of its impact gets clearer as victims continue to count losses across Anguwa Wakili mazara, Shara-mansur, Jillahi, bodoriyel in Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government of Gombe State.
30-year-old Fatima Ibrahim, mother of three-year-old Muhammadu Babangida, lost to the collapse of a mud wall is yet to recover from the pains of losing a child even after a week since the devastating effects of rainfall sacked over 50 households, hundreds of persons turned homeless with more than six persons including children recuperating, yet the areas are still wearing mournful look.
Sad tales of a mother
According to Ibrahim, her family woke up bright and healthy with her husband who is a carpenter, who went to the mosque for morning prayers, noting that tragedy occured within the space of two hours into the morning rain.
She said, “Exactly at about 5am on Saturday morning, the rain began to fall but it became very heavy around 7am. Suddenly, the wall of our kitchen area fell on three of them, two others Hussaina and Hajara survived with various degrees of injuries. Our first point of call was General Hospital Bajoga, that was where we admitted them. When we got to the hospital they confirmed him (Babangida) lifeless, treated Hajara and then referred Hussaina to Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe due to the severity of her case.
“While Hussaina sustained injuries around the head region, Hajara was hurt around her legs. The two are recuperating; Hajara, I adopted her due to circumstances in her home, she is at home where she is nursing injuries from the collapsed building and the other one Hussaina Ibrahim, my daughter is now on admission in Abubakar Tafa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi where she is been treated.
“My husband met us at General hospital Bajoga. He felt bad, as a father I’m certain that he didn’t expect it. Someone that woke up with us before leaving for mosque to say prayers only to be told to come to the hospital that his last child had died and others receiving medical attention.”
Ibrahim, who is also a petty trader revealed that she would miss the fond memories she shared with Babangida the last of her six children, adding that he was exceptional regardless of his age.
She added, “I will miss the joy I shared as his mother, the love I felt from his personality as young as he was he was very unique as a child, he was healthy and lively. He was my last child but he had a sweet and endearing personality. Some of his siblings were not very free to make choices or to express themselves but Babangida always knew what he wanted and he got it. He didn’t behave like a last born, he was not all clingy but was independently minded for his age. He was very cheerful and obedient.
“I feel very bad, I’m not happy. It can be really sad losing a loved one in a very painful way. It never crossed my mind at any time that Babangida would be lost in such a tragic way, there was no such premonition due to how strong and healthy he was not to mention that we will loss him following collapse of wall induced by flood. The joy of every mother is usually after taking care of your children and they attain adulthood that they would in turn shower you with great love. No parents would be happy to bury a child that is still growing but God knows best.”
Ibrahim, while recalling the incident in visible pains explained that the kitchen wall showed signs of crack only recently, adding that she didn’t expect that it would collapse.
“Where the wall collapsed is the kitchen area. The other side is where we sleep and water was coming into the room and I was busy packing water with bucket that flooded inside the room and they (children) had to excuse me in order to concentrate in emptying the room of water. However, at some point they began to assist in packing the water, it was at the point when they carried water towards the kitchen area, in a bid to empty the bucket that the wall fell. Honestly, I can’t recall the exact time it collapsed, when I came close I began to find them inside the rumble. The mud wall covered them entirely. No plans to demolish the rest of the structure, our attention at the moment is to raise fund to treat my daughter, Hussaina Ibrahim who is currently in the hospital. We built the building using clay and it has been about 15 -20 years now since it was erected. Subsequently, we will decide on what next to do the rest of the structure.”
While soliciting for support, she recounted how doctors wasted time before Hussaina was transferred from Gombe Federal Teaching Hospital to Tafa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
“However, it was after so much delay at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, that the doctors there came out straight that they can’t handle her case. We then took her to Abubakar Tafa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi as directed by those in FTH Gombe. But we need about N500,000 to commence treatment in Bauchi, we have only been able to raise just about N50,000 from contributions from family and friends.
“I will be very grateful if the state government under Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya can come to our aid. No amount will bring about our son, but whatever that they can do to assist us we will be happy, such will go a long way to reduce our pain. I wish to appeal to the state governor to assist us in paying the bills of Hussaina, late Babangida’s sister whose fate is in a balance due to the way she fell with her head. Raising the requested sum by Bauchi hospital authorities has not been easy, we need help to save her from retardation. God forbid that I will have to bury two children from this disaster, so I need as much help as possible to treat her,” Ibrahim added.
Narrating her ordeal 11-year-old Hajara Yuguda, who is currently a primary three student of girl child school said she heard the sound of the collapsed wall but was not able to escape with other part of her body as legs were covered in the mud.
Yuguda said, “I heard the sound of the wall caving in and before I could run away just before two steps from there it fell on my legs. I’m grateful to God that I’m still alive to become a medical doctor in the future.”
More devastating tales from flood survivors
Trip to Bajoga is less than an hour from the state capital and charge used to be N500 but our correspondent observed that due to the bad road the journey lasts for over an hour the fare now takes N700 per trip. Bajoga is along Yobe Potiskum road.
55-year-old Safiya Adamu, revealed how she managed to escape unhurt from the devastating flood.
She said she was lucky to have accommodating neighbours as her apartment was overtaken by flood.
Adamu said, “I knew rain was falling but I didn’t know that it will get to the extent of get into my apartment, from my early morning sleep I noticed my wrapper was getting well and immediately It was like I was dreaming until I opened my eyes and began to call for attention.”
She noted that her farm was also washed away by the flood, “Thanks to God for safety as it could have been worse the water could have swallowed me from my sleep thank God for the neighbours that came to my rescue. Although my farmland was also washed away buy the flood,” Adamu added.
Another resident of Shara-mansur, Zubair Yakubu, said he and his family have been rendered homeless following the flood that occured recently.
77-year-old Yakubu said he was yet to recover from the devastating effects, adding that his stored foodstuffs were drained by flood.
He said, “Usually at the end of the farming season we will store ahead of when the need will arise. I stored foodstuffs in my house and it was affected badly by the sad occurrence. No one can blame God am grateful we made it alive.”
“We (family) had to move to other peoples houses for survival from where we will sleep to what to eat. I have lost quite alot of things but I mentioned earlier I’m thankful to God that it is not worst where I will start burying a loved one. We are appreciative of the relief materials brought by SEMA at least we were able to get something to get without necessarily depending on family friends to feed us,” Yakubu said.
Also speaking, Gambo Zubairu stressed that his plans of getting married in 2022 may not happen as he had planned it, stressing that the flood has taken him backwards by 10 years.
The 19-year-old Zubairu told our correspondent that he enjoyed sleeping, whilst raining was falling. He stated that he was happy when he realised that it was a Saturday and had no plan of going out other than resting.
He said, “I was happy when I noticed from my sleep that it was raining and suddenly I remembered that it a Saturday and I didn’t have any work schedule for the day. All I had in mind was just to sleep, without anyone calling me. Only did I know that it would be a near death experience.
“Before I could sleep further I noticed uneasy cold from no where, of course the rain was falling and everywhere was cold but this one was uniquely different. I felt my bed soaking water from the flood, that when I knew all was not well.”
Upon realising that water had penetrated his home, Zubairu explained that he managed to safe a few things he could.
“I was only able to carry myself, it is someone that is alive that eats food, I just couldn’t wait to be drowned in the flood because it was beginning to gather from nowhere into the room. It was then I began to pray and beg go to allow the rain to stop, so that everywhere can be dried. Just immediately, I realised that the rain I enjoyed hearing the sound from sleep had become a threat to my enjoying my weekend,” Zubairu narrated.
Another victim, Hauwa Muhammad, said she was yet to regain herself as her family was greatly affected by the Saturday flood. She stated that they were yet to bounce back to normal way the family operated.
According to Muhammad, “Alot has changed the rain of that day caused significant damages. It is painful when you see your property get destroyed before your very eyes not that you were told but you could see what is going on. We have been drying our mattresses, we couldn’t use it that day. Ever since the event occurred the foam has been smelling of water.”
The 40-year-old mother of six children revealed that her family members comprising of her children and husband distributed them in two other apartments.
“We couldn’t just stay in one place, we shared ourselves in two family friends residence in order not to inconvenience them with our difficulty. I have six children with my husband and I we are eight in number. Four of us in each of the two houses managed in, eight persons can’t just go to a particular place . My husband and made share we didn’t constitute burden to anyone. Whether or not we ate that was not the problem of anyone of us, all we wanted was just a place to just wake up,” Muhammad explained.
Abdullahi Tukur, reacting to the loss suffered by residents called on government to ensure proper settlement of victims, he said the occurrence was painful but that he would not question God.
Tukur said, “I really feel so much sadness. But everything happens because GOD allowed it. we take it, as it comes but for our own safety we need government to do something about this.”
“Actually, we need government to take necessary action at bajoga if possible because the flood it keeps happening so there is need to solve the problem frontally. The families of Hussaina Ibrahim needs government to help them with her treatment as she is currently undergoing treatment at FTH Bauchi,” Tukur added.
Government’s intervention
A Government delegation, led by the Commissioner overseeing the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources, Alhaji Shehu Madugu, has visited some communities affected by the recent flood disaster in Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government area.
In his remarks during the visit, Madugu who conveyed Governor Yahaya’s condolences and sympathies over the lives lost and the damages caused by flood in the affected Local Government.
He said, “The essence of our visit today is to primary condole with you over this natural disaster that engulfed your communities as well as assess the level of damages caused with a view to developing an interventional recommendation to government so as to bring succour to the victims.
“His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya would have personally visited you but directed us to be here on his behalf because he travelled outside the State for an official engagement.”
Also speaking, Chairman, Funakaye local government council, Ibrahim Cheldu lauded state government’s responses which he said reduced, “for his prompt response in identifying with the affected communities and assured of his counci’s readiness to support his administration at all times,” Cheldu added.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of Gombe State Emergency Management Agency Abdullahi Haruna, said the agency has completed assessment of what caused the sad occurrence, blaming it on the siting of mud structures around water way.
Haruna said, “The flood happened on 30th July 2022 at that time I was not in Gombe but I directed two of my directors to go on assessment and they went on the 31st of the same month. Then the state government ordered the leadership of His Excellency (Muhammadu Yahaya) directed us to provide relief materials to the flood victims in Bajoga.
“I heard over the radio commissioner for works did a radio link, and he assured that the State Government will look at the cause of the flood in the area. At SEMA, what we can do is to assess and recommend to government and the governor has directed us to take relief materials food and non-food items, while he (governor) provided some token for them in the hospital to take care of their medical treatment. The governor also constituted committee and we have forwarded our assessment report to the government. It about 50 houses that were affected most of the houses are mud houses, we had about five persons injured they were assisted at the hospital and during the assessment we discovered the area was the pathway of water.”
While proffering prayers for their protection, the Executive Secretary urged residents to ensure easy passage of water to ensure the mitigation of causalities.
“Controlling flood is in many ways first you have to consider your drainage around the area. If water comes and your drainage is not open enough to take the volume of water automatically it will flood the area. People in the whole state not just Bajoga, should take care of their environment they plant trees and engage in regular cleaning of their surrounding.
“I will pray to Almighty Allah, you can’t do without disaster in a community, it comes once every year or twice every year, so we are praying to Almighty Allah to protect us, the state government very likely may provide more succour,” Haruna added.
