By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The body of a three-year-old girl, Haneefa Sanusi, who went missing during a flood in Zaria, Kaduna State, has been recovered.
Haneefa was swept away alongside her siblings after a heavy downpour triggered flooding in Tudun Jukun, Zaria.
In a statement, Abdulmumin Adamu of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Zaria Division, confirmed the discovery. “On 14 September 2025, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the remains of Haneefa were found at Gangaren Kasan Killaco, Gyallesu, Zaria. The recovery followed a search which confirmed that all the flood victims have now been accounted for,” he said.
It will be recalled that on 8 September 2025, heavy rainfall in Tudun Jukun, Tukur Tukur Ward, Zaria, led to severe flooding that claimed the lives of two students — Fatima Sani Danmarke of the School of Basic and Remedial Studies, Funtua, and Yusuf Surajo, popularly known as Abba.
Haneefa, who was being carried on the back by her sister Fatima during the incident, had been declared missing since the disaster.
Her grandfather, Mallam Suleiman of Layin Adamu Mai Aljana, confirmed the recovery, stating that the body was brought home on Sunday afternoon.
“I was called around 12 noon and informed that Haneefa’s body had been recovered. I rushed home and discovered it was true. We then organized the funeral prayer and buried her at about 1 p.m. We had earlier performed Salatul Gaib (prayer for an undiscovered corpse) after Magrib prayers at the Isa Cikon Kwami Mosque in Magume,” he explained.
He also noted that Haneefa’s father, Sunusi, had traveled for Umrah (lesser Hajj) when the tragedy occurred.
Mallam Suleiman expressed gratitude to all who supported the family during the ordeal and prayed for those who contributed to the recovery efforts.
