Body of 3-Year-Old Haneefa Recovered Six Days After Devastating Flood in Kaduna’s Zaria

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a bittersweet conclusion to a harrowing search, the remains of 3-year-old Haneefa have been recovered from the floodwaters that ravaged communities in Zaria, Kaduna State, exactly six days after a deadly deluge claimed multiple lives. The discovery brings an end to the desperate efforts by family, rescuers, and volunteers, but underscores the profound human toll of the disaster that has left families shattered and communities reeling.

The incident unfolded on September 8, 2025, when heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding in Tudun Jukun, Tukur Tukur Ward, Zaria. Torrential downpours overwhelmed local drainage systems, turning streets into raging torrents and sweeping away residents caught in the chaos.

This recovery concludes the search and confirms that all the flood victims have now been accounted for

Among the victims were two students—Fatima Sani Danmarke, an 18-year-old from the School of Basic and Remedial Studies in Funtua, and Yusuf Surajo, popularly known as Abba—whose lives were tragically cut short. Fatima, who had her young sister Haneefa strapped to her back as they returned from their grandmother’s home in nearby Magume, was unable to escape the flood’s fury near Nasara Baptist Church along Gaskiya Main Road. While a motorcyclist who was transporting them managed to flee, Fatima and Haneefa were carried away by the waters.

Yusuf Surajo’s body was recovered shortly after the flood on September 8, followed by Fatima’s remains the next day, September 9. However, the search for little Haneefa continued amid growing fears for the toddler’s fate. Eyewitnesses, including community leader Mustapha Badamasi (Dan Bakano of Tudun Jukun), described the scene as heart-wrenching, with floodwaters submerging a large roadside drainage and catching pedestrians off guard. The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) deployed teams to the area, but the incomplete drainage infrastructure in the region exacerbated the tragedy, displacing hundreds of families and destroying properties worth millions in communities like Gangaren Mobil, Bayan Cinema, and others.

The breakthrough came on Sunday, September 14, at approximately 11:00 a.m., when Haneefa’s body was discovered at Gangaren Kasan Killaco, Gyallesu, Zaria. Abdulmumin Adamu, Divisional Secretary of the Zaria division of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, confirmed the recovery in a statement, noting, “This recovery concludes the search and confirms that all the flood victims have now been accounted for.” The Red Cross, along with local volunteers, played a pivotal role in the multi-day operation, braving challenging conditions to scour the affected areas.

I was called around 12 noon and informed that Haneefa’s body had been recovered. So I rushed home to discover the story is true

Haneefa’s grandfather, Mallam Suleiman from Layin Adamu Mai Aljana, shared the family’s anguish and relief in an emotional confirmation. He revealed that Haneefa’s father, Sunusi, had been present during the incident but departed for Umrah (the lesser Hajj) on Friday, September 12. “I was called around 12 noon and informed that Haneefa’s body had been recovered. So I rushed home to discover the story is true,” Suleiman recounted. The family promptly organized funeral prayers and burial at about 1:00 p.m. that afternoon. Earlier, following the flood, they had performed Salatul Gaib—a special Islamic prayer for the undiscovered deceased—after Maghrib prayers at the Isa Cikon Kwami Mosque in Magume.

Suleiman expressed profound gratitude to those who supported the family during their ordeal. “We prayed for those that assisted the family during their trying moment and appreciated all that contributed in all ways towards the recovery of [our] daughter,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow. The loss of Haneefa, strapped to her sister’s back in a moment of everyday routine turned deadly, has amplified calls from residents for urgent improvements to Zaria’s flood-prone infrastructure. Community leaders and the KADSEMA have urged the state government to prioritize drainage projects to prevent future calamities, especially as the rainy season persists.

As Zaria mourns, the recovery of Haneefa’s remains offers a measure of closure to a community still grappling with the floods’ aftermath. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities exposed by climate challenges and inadequate urban planning in Nigeria’s northern regions. Investigations into the root causes continue, with hopes that lessons learned will safeguard lives in the future.