A promising 16-year-old student, Praise Malachi, tragically lost her life due to severe flooding in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State. Praise, a final year student at Government Day Secondary School, was rushing home to check her Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results after friends informed her of her excellent performance. Her untimely death has brought to the forefront the pressing environmental crisis and recurrent flooding issues plaguing the region.

According to her father, Emmanuel Malachi, the incident occurred around 6:00 pm after heavy rainfall. “My daughter’s friends came to my shop and informed her that her SSCE results were out and that she performed excellently well,” he recounted. Overjoyed by the good news, Praise hurried home to view her results on her phone. While attempting to cross a small river, which had swollen significantly due to severe erosion and floodwater, she slipped and was swept away by the strong current. Her body was tragically recovered the following day in Hunkuyi, located in Kudan Local Government Area.

Praise Malachi was a highly intelligent student, having secured a scholarship from the Centre for Girls Education Zaria to further her studies, a testament to her brilliant academic performance. Habiba Mohammed, Director of the Centre for Girls Education, expressed profound grief over the loss, stating, “We are all in grief on the sad story of her death. She was such a wonderful child who is never involved in any wanting behavior.” Mohammed had earlier informed the family about Praise’s scholarship due to her excellent academic record.

Neighbors, Danladi Mudi and Emma Yashi, highlighted that the environmental crisis in the area, exacerbated by erosion, has made the community highly susceptible to flooding during rainfall. Emma Yashi somberly noted that Praise was not the first child to die in the floods, as several other lives had been claimed in the past. In response to the tragedy and the ongoing environmental concerns, Habiba Mohammed appealed to relevant authorities to intervene swiftly by addressing the severe erosion problem and constructing a bridge on the road to prevent future loss of life.

Zaria has been experiencing severe flooding in recent times. One of the worst-hit areas is Chikaji, where on August 27, 2024, a flood disaster affected over 200 houses, damaged LEA Primary School, and destroyed a substantial part of the Hayin Ojo Cemetery. Residents continue to seek urgent assistance from the government and philanthropists to mitigate these recurring disasters and ensure the safety of their communities.