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Flood destroys houses, schools, farms in Plateau, Bauchi, Niger

Published

7 months ago

August 4, 2025

Flood destroys houses, schools, farms in Plateau, Bauchi, Niger

A torrential downpour on Sunday wreaked widespread destruction across communities in Plateau and Bauchi states, leaving scores of houses destroyed, farmlands submerged, and hundreds of residents displaced.

In the Menkaat community, Shimankar district, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State, over 50 houses, including schools and a worship centre, were destroyed.

Residents said the rainstorm, which began in the early hours, was accompanied by strong winds that uprooted trees, knocked down electric poles, and blew off rooftops, causing several buildings to collapse.

Mazawaje Daniel Danjuma, the councillor representing Shimankar, confirmed the extensive damage, saying that rice farms were especially affected as floodwaters with sand overwhelmed the fields.

“Many residential buildings have collapsed. The intensity of the rainfall also destroyed farms. People have lost a lot,” he said.

Another resident, Mr. Lawrence Longwalk, appealed for urgent government intervention, noting that two primary schools and a worship centre were destroyed.

“From the level of damage, the people need urgent help,” he said.

Bauchi

Meanwhile, a rainstorm also displaced over 40 households and swept away farmlands in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Adamu Nayola, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said that although no lives were lost, many victims, especially women and children, are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Nayola blamed the severity of the flooding on a poorly constructed culvert by a road construction company, which failed to handle the heavy volume of water.

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He assured that SEMA had begun assessments and would provide relief materials to affected communities.

Niger

Also, flood submerged several farmlands in parts of Niger State following an early morning rainfall on Sunday in Kafin Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area.

The flooding also affected 18 communities in Lapai Local Government Area, where some farmlands were damaged, and many others remain at risk of being washed away.

Some of the affected communities include Dere, Eshi, Apataku, Tsakanabi, Kuchi Kakanda, Arah, Achiba, Rebba, Ebwa, Pele, Edda, Rigido, Gbami, Yawa, Baka, and Muye.

The state government on Sunday urged riverine communities to relocate to higher grounds, citing intensified rainfall across the state.

In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication, Media and Strategy, Jonathan Vatsa, acknowledged the emotional ties residents have to their ancestral homes but emphasised the need to comply with the government’s relocation advisory until the rains subside.

“As a government, we will continue to be proactive by appealing to the people, especially those in flood-prone areas, to immediately move upland to avoid another disaster like that of Mokwa,” Vatsa said.

“We understand the strong connection people have to their ancestral lands, but given the current flood alerts and the realities we are already witnessing, it is crucial that they heed this warning.”

“The Mokwa experience is still fresh in our minds, and we cannot afford a repeat. That is why we are urging the people to move to higher ground,” he added.

Vatsa revealed that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier identified 15 out of the state’s 25 local government areas as highly vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season.

FG’s flood warning

The federal government also recently issued a red alert for imminent flooding in 11 states.

The alert, which predicts possible flood events, came from the National Flood Early Warning Centre under the Federal Ministry of Environment.

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Similarly, during the April unveiling of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, listed several high-risk flood zones.

These include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Between March and July 2025, over 250 people were killed and thousands displaced due to a series of floods, windstorms, and rainstorms across states including Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Taraba, Ekiti, Ogun, and Imo.

The deadliest incident occurred on June 11 in Mokwa, Niger State, where more than 200 people died and dozens went missing after a massive flood submerged large portions of the town.

Just last week, heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding in various parts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, displacing hundreds of residents.

According to the police, eight buildings collapsed as a result of the flood, though no casualties were recorded.

The affected areas include Bulunkutu, Pompomari Bypass, Damboa Road, Gamboru area, Baga Road, Gwange, Moduganari, Dala, Moranti, and Jiddari Polo.

Many residents expressed fear, recalling the devastation caused by the September 10, 2024, flood.

Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, five people lost their lives and over 50 others were injured following a devastating flood that swept through several communities in Yola North and Yola South Local Government Areas in late July.

The heavy rainfall caused widespread destruction in the affected areas.

The worst-hit communities include Yola Bypass, Sabon Pegi, Yolde Pate, and Modire, where houses were submerged, farmlands destroyed, and roads washed away, hindering both human and vehicular movement.

Flood destroys houses, schools, farms in Plateau, Bauchi, Niger

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Omokri Alleges Possible Hacking in Obi–Oyedepo Audio Leak, Mentions el-Rufai

Published

2 hours ago

February 15, 2026

Trends Admin

Omokri Alleges Possible Hacking in Obi–Oyedepo Audio Leak, Mentions el-Rufai

Political commentator, Reno Omokri, has alleged that the controversial leaked telephone conversation between the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, may have been the result of a coordinated hacking operation.

Omokri, in a statement shared on his verified social media handle, suggested that associates of a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, could have had both the capacity and motive to compromise Obi’s phone and leak the conversation to the public during the heat of the 2023 presidential campaign.

The leaked audio, which surfaced weeks before the presidential election, generated widespread reactions across political and religious lines, with critics interpreting parts of the conversation as religiously charged. Obi had, at the time, denied any wrongdoing and maintained that his comments were taken out of context.

In his latest remarks, Omokri argued that political phone hacking was not impossible in Nigeria’s political environment, adding that if high-profile communications could allegedly be breached, then the phones of political actors might also be vulnerable. He, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Efforts to reach el-Rufai’s media aides for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. There was also no immediate response from Obi’s camp regarding the fresh claims.

No security agency has publicly linked any individual or group to the leaked audio, and there is no official confirmation that the conversation was obtained through hacking.

Analysts say the renewed allegations reflect lingering tensions from the 2023 general elections and underscore growing concerns over cybersecurity and political misinformation in the country.

Omokri Alleges Possible Hacking in Obi–Oyedepo Audio Leak, Mentions el-Rufai

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Troops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner, Recover Six Machine Guns in Taraba Operation

Published

4 hours ago

February 15, 2026

Trends Admin

Troops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner, Recover Six Machine Guns in Taraba Operation

Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, operating under **Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke, have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered a cache of weapons and related items during an intelligence‑led operation in Ibi Local Government Area, Taraba State.

The operation, which took place on 12 February 2026, was launched after credible intelligence alerted soldiers deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Wukari, to the presence of a suspected arms trafficker in the area. Following swift mobilisation, the troops intercepted and apprehended the suspect identified as Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, a 48‑year‑old native of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau State.

A statement issued on Saturday by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 6 Brigade, confirmed the arrest and the recovery of several items during a thorough search conducted at the scene.

Recovered items included:

6 x PKT machine guns
2 x 7.62mm special ammunition
Cash sum of One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira (₦170,000)
1 x Peugeot 504 vehicle
1 x Q Seven mobile phone
7 x bottles and wraps of perfume
2 x small containers of Vaseline

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The suspect remains in custody and is currently undergoing further investigations by military intelligence and law enforcement personnel.

The Army emphasised that the interception denied criminal elements the opportunity to proliferate illegal weapons within the state, contributing to broader efforts to combat insecurity and enhance public safety across Taraba and neighbouring states. Illegal arms proliferation has been a major driver of violence, including kidnapping, banditry and communal clashes, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.

The Commander of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Michael Akaliro, commended the vigilance, professionalism and swift response of the troops involved. He urged soldiers to sustain the operational tempo to ensure that the Brigade achieves the mandate assigned by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

He also appreciated the cooperation of local residents, noting that timely and credible intelligence from community members played a significant role in the success of the operation.

Brigadier General Akaliro called on members of the public to remain security conscious and to continue assisting security agencies with actionable information, emphasising that such cooperation has proven invaluable in cracking down on criminal networks.

“The Brigade remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property and to restore lasting peace and stability across Taraba State,” he stated, reaffirming the Army’s commitment to safeguarding civilians and curbing the flow of illegal weapons in the region.

Troops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner, Recover Six Machine Guns in Taraba Operation

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Argungu Festival 2026 Highlights Peace, Stability, Economic Growth — Tinubu

Published

4 hours ago

February 15, 2026

Trends Admin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Argungu Festival 2026

Argungu Festival 2026 Highlights Peace, Stability, Economic Growth — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the 61st Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as a milestone in Nigeria’s return to stability and normalcy, emphasizing its role in promoting tourism, agriculture, food security, and rural development in Kebbi State and the broader northwest region. Speaking at the grand finale of the four-day festival, Tinubu congratulated the Kebbi State Government for hosting the historic event, which drew over 50,000 fishermen and thousands of visitors from Nigeria and neighbouring countries. He described the festival as a “powerful symbol of unity, resilience and peaceful coexistence.”

The President lauded the robust security arrangements, noting that cultural events thrive only in a safe environment. He attributed the return of relative peace to sustained investments in security, intelligence gathering, and community engagement, promising that the fight against banditry and insurgency would continue until fully defeated. “Farmers, fishermen, traders, and families must be able to live and work without fear,” Tinubu said, stressing the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting agriculture and rural livelihoods, highlighting Kebbi State as a key contributor to Nigeria’s food security agenda.

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Tinubu also underscored the festival’s unifying power, noting that it brings together people of different nations, backgrounds, and beliefs in the spirit of friendship and healthy competition, while projecting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to the world. The festival featured traditional fishing competition in the Matan Fada River, cultural performances, music and dance, canoe races, and wrestling competitions, giving participants and visitors a full showcase of the region’s culture. The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, described the festival as a symbol of courage, reconciliation, peace, and friendship, linking it to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

At the competition’s climax, Abubakar Usman from Maiyama Local Government Area emerged the overall champion with a record 59‑kilogram catch, earning him N1 million and two vehicles. Runner-up Abdullahi Garba from Argungu caught a 40kg fish, while two contestants from Jigawa and Kogi states shared third place with 33kg catches each, also receiving prizes. All four winning fish were presented to President Tinubu as ceremonial souvenirs.

Before attending the festival, Tinubu inaugurated key infrastructure projects in Birnin Kebbi, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Secretariat Complex, a modern motor park, a three-lane dual carriageway, the Kauran Gwandu College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, and the newly dualised Old Argungu By-Pass Road. Governor Nasir Idris welcomed the President’s visit and reiterated his government’s resolve to sustain the festival as a platform for cultural preservation, tourism development, and economic empowerment. He highlighted the state government’s achievements, including road expansions, urban development, rehabilitation of 16 general hospitals and over 120 primary healthcare centres, and the distribution of fertilizers, improved seedlings, agrochemicals, and farm implements to local farmers.

The festival’s return after a multi-year hiatus due to insecurity is widely regarded as a turning point in the northwest’s socio-economic recovery. Local officials and stakeholders noted that the event has boosted trade, tourism, and cultural pride, attracting visitors and business activity across Argungu and surrounding areas, reflecting a renewed sense of peace, stability, and opportunity in Kebbi State.