More than 700 people are feared dead following catastrophic floods that swept through the Mokwa districts in central Niger State, Nigeria. Officials have confirmed the official death toll has risen to over 200, while around 500 people remain missing. Local authorities have now ceased rescue operations, as they believe there are no survivors left to be found.
The flooding, described as the worst in the area in 60 years, struck the districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after days of torrential rains. The immense force of the floodwaters destroyed homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure, leaving thousands displaced and vulnerable.
Local resident Saliu Sulaiman recounted the devastating impact on his life: “I lost at least $1,500 to the floods. It was the proceeds from the sale of my farm produce the previous day. I contemplated going back into the room to get it, but the pressure of the water scared me.” Others described how the floods swept away entire families and possessions in moments, with one man, Adamu Yusuf, tragically losing his wife and newborn baby.
Some locals believe the disaster was worsened by the bursting of a nearby dam, though authorities have yet to confirm this. The floodwaters were so powerful that bodies were reportedly carried downstream to the town of Rabba, over an hour’s drive from Mokwa. Authorities have advised neighboring villages to bury any bodies they find, while some victims remain unrecovered, believed to have been swept through the River Niger.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun distributing relief packages and noted that roads and bridges have been severely damaged, further impacting the local economy and transportation. The Nigerian Red Cross expressed deep concern over the significant loss of life and widespread distress caused by the floods.
Flooding during Nigeria’s rainy season, from April to October, is common, but the scale of this year’s disaster echoes the severe floods of 2022, which claimed over 600 lives and displaced more than 1.3 million people. In response, officials are preparing to dig out corpses buried underground to prevent the outbreak of disease.
This tragedy highlights the urgent need for enhanced flood management and disaster preparedness in Nigeria to protect vulnerable communities from future calamities.
