There was sorrow in Zaria when the residents burst into uncontrollable tears as over 200 houses were hit by the flood and property worth millions of Naira washed away at Chikaji Ward of Sabon Gari Local Government Area of the metropolis in Kaduna State.

The flood occurred on Monday due to torrential rainfall between 5.00 am and 1.00 pm.

Residents of Chikaji, Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State have appealed for assistance from the government and philanthropists over the flood that devastated the hundreds of residents, rendered them homeless and washed away properties.

In his sympathy message to the victims of the flood, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajuddeen, lamented that the incident happened at a trying time for the residents.

Spokesman to the Speaker Kirishi in a statement called for an urgent intervention to provide succour to the victims, urging them to stay calm while the government addresses their plight.

Abbas lamented over the flood in Sabon Gari and sought intervention for the victims to reduce the pains they were going through due to the disaster.

Specifically, the Speaker called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) to come to the aid of the flood victims at this critical time.

Abass urged residents of the affected areas and adjoining places to take precautionary measures and heed advisory from experts and relevant authorities on floods.

Speaking to Journalists on the devastation by the flood, the village head of Chikaji, Alhaji Auwal Sani-Dambaba said the flood affected over 200 houses in the area.

He added that the flood washed away parts of the LEA Primary School in the area and a substantial part of the Hayin–Ojo Cemetery.

“Currently, many graves are left open, while the victims take shelter in the neighborhood. There was no loss of life during the incident,” the village head said.

While lamenting the ordeal of his community, the village head said a day and hours after the incident, there was no support or assistance from the government, either at the national or sub-national level.

However, Suleiman Liman, the Chief Imam of Chikaji Central Mosque, said the community has summoned an emergency meeting of wealthy individuals in the area to address the immediate challenges at the cemetery.

The chief Imam added that the emergency meeting will look into the plight of the victims of the flood.

Ibrahim Ahmed, one of the victims who was standing on the rubble of the remains of his two-bedroom flat, said they are grateful to God that the flood occurred at that time.

According to him, they were evacuating water in the house when the section of the house fell.

He said that they could not take anything from the house as he was protecting his kids from the rubble of the building.

He also appealed for support and quick intervention from the government and key stakeholders to the victims.

Sabe Wowo Gafai Katsina, a community leader in the area, said most of the victims of the flood were now squatting with some less affected residents, adding that some married women had returned to their parents pending the stability of the situation.

He added that the worst affected areas were along the water canal from Yan-Awaki (around Kano Round About) to Chikaji, down to Shika.