At least 88 people have been confirmed dead following devastating flash floods in Mokwa, central Nigeria, with the number expected to rise further as rescue operations continue. The floods, triggered by torrential rains late Wednesday, swept through residential areas, destroying homes and displacing hundreds.
Hussaini Isah, head of operations for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Niger State, said, “The death toll is about 88 and rising,” as teams of rescuers, including local volunteers, comb through debris in search of missing persons.
The scale of the disaster became more apparent on Friday, as emergency services and residents waded through floodwaters, searching collapsed buildings for survivors. Displaced children were seen playing in contaminated waters, raising fears of an outbreak of waterborne diseases. At least two bodies were spotted wrapped in printed cloth and banana leaves, underscoring the desperation of the situation.
A visibly distraught woman in a maroon headscarf wept silently among the ruins. Nearby, civil servant Mohammed Tanko, 29, pointed to the remnants of his childhood home. “We lost at least 15 from this house. The property is gone. We lost everything,” he said. Fisherman Danjuma Shaba, 35, shared his plight, revealing he had been sleeping in a car park since his home collapsed.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had earlier warned of flash floods in 15 states, including Niger, but the scale of devastation has shocked many. Nigeria’s six-month rainy season has only just begun, but floods have already caused widespread destruction, largely due to poor infrastructure, blocked drains, and construction on waterways.
Flooding is a recurring crisis in Nigeria, worsened by climate change and unregulated urban development. In 2024 alone, over 1,200 lives were lost, and 1.2 million people were displaced across 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, marking one of the deadliest flood seasons in decades.
Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone areas to relocate temporarily, while rescue efforts and aid distribution continue in Mokwa and other affected communities. The government has promised support, but many residents say urgent infrastructural improvements are needed to prevent future disasters.
