Flood Tragedy: Search Intensifies for Missing Student, Olam Worker

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), has launched a search and rescue operation for two persons—a nursing student and an Olam staff member—who were swept away by floodwaters in the Kaduna River.

The operation, involving the Kaduna State Fire Service, local divers and other emergency responders, began early Sunday at Hayin Mallam Bello community in Kaduna South Local Government Area. The victims were reportedly carried away on Saturday evening while attempting to cross the swollen river following heavy rainfall across parts of Kaduna metropolis.
Head of NEMA Operations Office in Kaduna, Hajiya Halima Suleiman, said the agency immediately activated its emergency response team after receiving a distress call. She disclosed that emergency personnel and local divers searched the river for several hours but had not located the victims as of the time of filing the report.
The missing persons were identified as Musa Musa Bawa, 27, a 200-level student of the College of Nursing, Tudun Wada, and Abubakar Ibrahim Muhammad Likoro, 25, an employee of Olam Flour Mills, Kaduna.
Suleiman assured residents that the search would continue until the victims were found.
“We will continue the search operation until the missing persons are found. NEMA, in collaboration with other emergency response agencies, remains committed to sustaining the operation until its objective is achieved,” she said.
She commended the dedication, professionalism and resilience of emergency responders and local volunteers participating in the operation. Suleiman also said she had visited the families of the victims to express the agency’s sympathy and encourage them to remain hopeful.
She further urged residents to avoid crossing flooded rivers, streams and drainage channels during and after heavy rainfall, stressing the importance of promptly reporting emergencies to the appropriate authorities for swift intervention.
Suleiman added that NEMA would continue its public sensitisation campaign on flood safety to reduce the risk of drowning and other flood-related incidents.