Heavy rainfall that lasted for several hours has caused serious flooding and destruction in parts of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, with the Mile Six area among the worst hit.
The downpour reportedly began around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday and continued into the morning, leading to rising water levels that overflowed drains and spread into homes and streets across different parts of the city.
Residents said the flood moved quickly and left many people with little or no time to protect their belongings as houses were filled with water and property was washed away.
One of the most affected locations was the area around Excellence International School, where floodwater entered residential compounds, damaging homes and leaving scattered debris behind.
Some residents who spoke about the incident described it as frightening, explaining that the water rose so fast that evacuation was difficult.
Many people blamed the situation on poor drainage systems in the area, saying flooding has become a repeated problem even during normal rainfall.
A resident, Nasiru Illiya, said his home was partly submerged and expressed frustration over what he called a yearly occurrence.
He noted that blocked or inadequate drainage channels were making the community more vulnerable whenever there is heavy rain.
Preliminary information shows that several households recorded losses, including damaged household items, flooded compounds, washed-out walkways, and structural damage to some buildings.
There are also growing concerns about public health, as residents warned that stagnant water left behind by the flood could increase the spread of water-related diseases if not quickly addressed.
The situation has renewed calls for urgent action from government authorities. Community members are urging both local and state officials to improve drainage infrastructure and introduce better flood control measures to prevent future incidents.
As the rainy season continues, residents fear more flooding could happen in other parts of Jalingo if immediate steps are not taken to manage water flow and protect lives and property.