A law firm, Desmond S. Adebole & Co., has issued a formal demand notice to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Mining Cadastre Office, the Attorney General of the Federation, and Hydro Resources Ltd, seeking ₦50 billion in compensation for victims of the July 27 flood disaster in Adamawa State.
The firm accuses the ministry, its agencies, and Hydro Resources Ltd of negligence, alleging that their actions and inactions triggered the flooding that claimed lives and destroyed property in Fufore and Yola South Local Government Areas.
According to the notice, Hydro Resources Ltd allegedly constructed a dam in Fufore to store water for mining activities. In the early hours of July 27, water was reportedly released from the dam’s reservoir, causing a massive overflow into normally dry areas. The surge inundated communities including Shagari, Shagari Sabon Pegi, Ibnu Abbas, Modire, Yolde Parte, Tashan Sani, Lakare, and Lelewaji, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
The law firm says it possesses a detailed survey report, video footage, and photographs documenting the extent of the damage, the loss of lives, and the destruction of properties. It claims the survey quantified the financial losses, measured flood depth, and analysed field data to assess the full impact on the affected communities.
Citing Section 113(4) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, the firm insists the parties have a legal duty of care and are obligated to compensate the victims for the damage and disruption caused by their operations.
The demand requires payment within one week of acknowledgment, failing which legal action will be initiated.
It could be recalled that politician A.A. Lawan Uba visited the mining site during the flooding, a move that drew national attention to the devastation and the plight of the victims.
The development has sparked public debate in Adamawa over corporate accountability, with residents and civil society groups watching closely for what could become a landmark environmental case.
