Abdulramid Useni, a resident of Gangere in
Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau
State, who lost seven children to the flood,
said he was yet to comprehend what
happened to him.
“My world is finished. Where do I start
from?” he asked our correspondent in an
emotion laden voice.
Useni said they were sleeping when it
happened.
He said, “All of us were sleeping. I, my wife
and our 12 children were sleeping in the
house when all of a sudden, there was this
sudden surge of flood which took over our
house. Before we could do anything, the
house collapsed and the flood swept all of us
away, including the house.
“I was able to survive because I clung to a
pole. It was a matter of life and death as I
was there until the flood subsided.”
Useni said he had found the bodies of six of
his children while he was yet to locate one.
He said he and his wife and five other
children survived to tell the story, adding
that it was by the grace of God that his
other children survived. Useni said he and
the surviving members of his family were
taking shelter in one of the displaced
people’s camps in Rikkos.
Community Leader of Gangere, Gudu
Usman-Ali, described the Sunday flood
which killed no fewer than 38 people as a
disaster. Mahmud told our correspondent in
Jos that the flood was the worst the
community had experienced in recent times.
He said the rain started at about 7.15pm
and became heavier by 9.30pm when the
floods overflowed the banks of River Rikkos.
Mahmud said, “We were in the mosque
when the calamity started. The rain just
started washing away houses and carrying
people, some of whom were asleep.”
He said the floods overran three districts of
Rikkos Tudun, Gangere and Angwan Rogo,
adding that more than 20 people had been
confirmed dead while scores of others were
still missing. He called on the government to
hasten rescue efforts and provide relief
materials to displaced persons.

www.punchng.com/news/man-loses-seven-children-to-jos-flood/