A final year student of Government Day Secondary school, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, Miss Praise Malachi lost her life to flooding while rushing home to check her SSCE results, which her friend told her she passed with excellent grades.
The 16 years old deceased had been awarded scholarship by the Centre of Girls Education Zaria to further her education because of her brilliant performance in school.
Narrating the incident, her father Emmanuel Malachi, said, “It was around 6:00 pm 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.”
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 consoling the family, revealed 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,” Mohammed said.
