•Late Praise Malachi
A 16-year-old girl, Praise Malachi, has lost her life in flooding while rushing home to check her Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, which her friends told her were excellent.
Praise was a final year student of Government Day Secondary school, Samaru, Zaria, who bagged scholarship from the Centre of Girls Education Zaria to further her education because of her brilliant performance, reports Weekend Trust.
Her father, Emmanuel Malachi, said, “It was around 6pm after rainfall, when my daughter’s friends came to my shop and informed her that her SSCE results were out and that she performed excellently well.
“After hearing the good news, Praise rushed home to check the results on her phone. And while crossing the small river caused by severe erosion, she slipped and fell into it and was taken away by the floodwater.
“Her dead body was recovered the following day in far away Hunkuyi in Kudan Local Government Area,” he said.
Danladi Mudi and Emma Yashi, neighbours to the deceased, said the environmental crisis in the area was exacerbated by erosion, making it prone to flooding during rainfall.
“Praise was not the only child who died in the flood, several other lives had been claimed in the past,” Yashi added.
Speaking on the tragic event, Habiba Mohammed, Director, Centre for Girls Education, said the deceased was one of the best students.
Mohammed while consolling the family, informed that the deceased had earlier secured a scholarship from the centre to further her education due to her excellent academic performance
“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 behaviour.
“I appeal to relevant authorities to quickly intervene by addressing the erosion problem and constructing a bridge on the road to save lives,” she said.
In recent times, Zaria has experienced severe flooding, with Chikaji being one of the worst-hit areas.
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 have been seeking assistance from the government and philanthropists to address the issue.
