Nigerians in the town of Hadeja in the northern state of Jigawa said they had lost everything after floods ravaged their homes and farms.

Nigerians living in the town of Hadeja in the northern state of Jigawa have lost everything after floods ravaged their farms and homes on Monday.

Government officials said almost half the population in the central part of Nigeria has been displaced after authorities opened floodgates of dams on two swollen rivers. The two dams are normally opened each year to release water to flow into rice fields and irrigate maize and vegetables.

Local leaders and residents say they used sand and bricks from submerged homes to build barriers to stop the floodwater. One resident living in the village, said "the water came without warning while she was cooking and swept away her pots and plates."35-year-old Azuni Asabe managed to save three of her eight children who were still in their mud house as the other five had already left for school.