More than 200 lives have been lost following catastrophic flooding in the Nigerian town of Mokwa, situated in north-central Niger State.
The torrential rains, believed to have triggered the worst flooding in the area in over six decades, submerged entire communities, including Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa. With over 500 individuals still unaccounted for, local authorities have reluctantly suspended rescue operations, expressing doubt that further survivors can be found, over the week-end.
Deputy Chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, confirmed the grim development, while District Head Muhammadu Aliyu announced plans to exhume buried corpses to prevent the spread of disease.
Survivors have been left traumatised by the scale of the disaster. Adamu Yusuf, a local resident, recounted the heart-wrenching moment he lost his wife and newborn child, swept away by the surging waters as he watched helplessly. Another victim, Saliu Sulaiman, described how the floods destroyed his home and wiped out $1,500 in proceeds from the recent sale of farm produce. “I wanted to go back inside and retrieve the money, but the force of the water terrified me,” he lamented. Such testimonies underscore the profound emotional and financial toll on the people of Mokwa, many of whom now face an uncertain future.
In response, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun distributing relief packages to displaced families and assessing infrastructure damage, as key roads and bridges remain inaccessible. The Nigerian Red Cross has also issued a statement acknowledging the “significant loss of life and widespread distress” caused by the floods. While seasonal flooding is a recurrent threat during Nigeria’s April-to-October rainy season, the scale of devastation in Mokwa has reignited concerns about the country’s flood preparedness. Recent years have seen a rise in severe flooding, with over 600 fatalities recorded in 2022 alone, a pattern that experts warn could worsen under the weight of climate change and poor urban planning.