7 -year Old Girl Dies As Heavy Rain Destroys Properties in Kaduna

By Lawal A. Dogara,Kaduna
A heavy rainfall which lasted for hours between Thursday midnight and Friday morning has claimed the life of one, Theresa James,7 years old resident of Anguwar Yelwa area in Kaduna.
The heavy down pour which started from the middle of the night till the early hours of today also resulted in the collapse of houses, destruction of properties and a bridge linking the area with the metropolis.
An eyewitness and resident of the area, Solomon Daye stated that the incident occurred when they were fast asleep and suddenly they discovered water was rushing into their home.
According to him, “We were asleep at about 12.30am when we discovered water was coming into our house.
“Before I could jump up the whole house was flooded, and within a twinkle of an eye it got to my shoulder so, we just struggle to find our way into the ceiling crying for help.
“So, in the morning when the rain subsided, there was my neighbour who went to a night vigil and left her four children at home. Three of the children slept on the bed while the other one slept on the floor and since they’re little children they could not escape the flood.
“So, when the flood came the three children who were on the bed were raised up while the one on the floor; Theresa James, 7 years old died as she could not escape.
“When concerned residents arrived to rescue the children, they didn’t even know there were four of them in the house, it was when the water had subsided and they went to arrange the room that they found the body of Theresa,” Daye said.
Similarly, the Shepherd in-charge, the Cherubim & Seraphim Church Movement, one of the buildings that collapsed , Special Mother in Israel, Rachel Olaoye stated that this was not the first nor second time residents would experience loss of lives and property as a result of the perennial flood in the area.
“In the( night )yesterday around 1a.m when the rain started, we thought it is a small thing, but before we could do anything the gutters and our homes got filled up with water and then we all climb the ceiling both the old and young.
“It’s unfortunate we lost a child when we went to look for her we could not find her.
“This is what happened last year, which prompted me to go and seek for a loan of N670,000 to erect this concrete wall you’re seeing today. This has helped to reduce the influx of water into this area .If part of the bridge did not collapse there wouldn’t be any flood.
“It is because the bridge collapsed that is why this flood entered our homes. Because of this erosion problem three years ago, I’ve been to the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Chikun Local Government Headquarters asking them to help us see what they can do concerning erosion but to no avail.
“We’ve been spending our personal money and the government is aware of the problem. After several visits to Chikun Local government and I was being tossed about, I gave up. Please tell government to help us before more lives are lost,” she said.
In the same vein, a youth leader in Anguwar Yelwa, Mr. Gabriel Adams attributed the collapse of houses and churches in the area to the fallen bridge.