The death toll from the devastating flash floods that struck Mokwa, Niger State, on Wednesday night, has surged past 100, with many more still missing, officials confirmed on Friday.
According to Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), 115 bodies have been recovered so far, with more expected as rescue operations continue along the River Niger and its surrounding communities.
“The flood came from a far distance and washed people into the River Niger. Downstream, bodies are still being recovered,” Husseini said.
Families Devastated as Entire Communities Submerged
The flash floods, caused by torrential rainfall, submerged and washed away dozens of homes in Mokwa and nearby areas. Many victims are feared to be buried beneath collapsed buildings, and emergency crews say excavators are urgently needed to retrieve more bodies.
A particularly heartbreaking case involved a family of 12, of which only four members have been accounted for.
Earlier in the day, Hussaini Isah, who coordinates the rescue efforts, placed the provisional death toll at 88, highlighting how quickly the situation is worsening.
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Scenes of Despair and Loss
An AFP journalist reported that emergency workers were seen navigating through debris, while distressed residents searched for loved ones. Displaced children played in contaminated floodwaters, raising serious concerns about potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
“We lost at least 15 from this house. The property is gone. We lost everything,” said Mohammed Tanko, 29, a civil servant, pointing at the remnants of his family home.
“I don’t have a house to sleep in. My house has already collapsed,” added Danjuma Shaba, a 35-year-old fisherman now sleeping in a car park.
Flooding Crisis: A National Emergency
Nigeria’s rainy season, which spans six months, is just beginning, and experts warn of more disasters ahead.
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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier warned of potential flash floods in 15 out of Nigeria’s 36 states, including Niger State, between Wednesday and Friday.
Flooding in Nigeria is often worsened by:
- Poor drainage infrastructure
- Construction on waterways
- Waste dumping in drainage channels
In 2024 alone, over 1,200 lives were lost and 1.2 million people were displaced across 31 states, marking one of Nigeria’s worst flooding seasons in recent memory.
Climate scientists have also linked such disasters’ rising frequency and intensity to climate change, urging urgent infrastructural and policy interventions.
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