Over 100 d3ad as flood hits Niger

 

A devastating flood has claimed the lives of no fewer than 100 people in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, with over 100 others still missing as of Frid

The torrential downpour, which began late Wednesday night and lasted for hours, submerged homes and swept through entire communities, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

On Friday alone, at least 44 victims were buried, following the earlier burial of 31 recovered bodies earlier in the week. The full scale of the disaster remains unclear, as families continue searching for missing loved ones, including many Almajirai (Qur’anic school pupils) whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Confirming the death toll, Niger State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba said over 100 people had died in the tragedy. During a visit to the affected areas on Friday, Garba noted that search and rescue operations were still ongoing.

“I have been briefed by officials from NEMA and NSEMA, who have been on the ground since the incident occurred,” he said. “I was told that over 100 people lost their lives and some have yet to be buried.”

He addressed displaced survivors at a temporary camp, urging them to remain patient as the state government begins the distribution of relief materials provided by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, confirmed that agency personnel were on the ground, leading rescue efforts and supporting displaced residents.

One of the survivors, Anas Usman, recounted the harrowing moment the flood destroyed his home and killed 17 members of his family.

“We were preparing to go to the farm when our house was suddenly submerged,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria. “The building collapsed. We lost children, women, and men—my entire family.”

By Friday, more than 40 corpses had been buried, excluding those still trapped under rubble or missing entirely. Salihu Ishaq, another resident, revealed that his sister and her three children were swept away and have not been found.

“This is the worst disaster we’ve ever seen,” Ishaq said. “Entire villages have been submerged, and more than 50 houses were washed away. We’ve already buried over 70 people, and we’re still finding more bodies.”

The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, said the flooding wiped out two major communities—Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa—along with over 50 residential buildings.

“This flood is beyond our imagination,” he said. “The people affected are among the poorest. We don’t even have a full count of the Almajirai. I personally counted over 40 corpses buried today. More are still being recovered.”

Senior Special Adviser to Governor Mohammed Bago, Jonathan Vatsa, also confirmed the collapse of the Tatabu Bridge—the key link between the North and the South-West—saying the disaster had not only devastated Mokwa but thrown the entire state into mourning.

“We cannot ascertain the full number of casualties yet,” Vatsa said. “This is a natural disaster that’s overwhelmed the state’s capacity. The Federal Government must urgently intervene. This road is the only route connecting us to the South-West, and now it’s gone.”

President Bola Tinubu, in response to the tragedy, has ordered intensified rescue and relief operations in the affected areas. A statement by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the President was deeply concerned and fully briefed on the incident.

“The Federal Government’s immediate priority is to save lives and provide urgent relief to survivors,” Idris said. “NEMA, in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces and Niger State Government, is working around the clock.”

The government also commended first responders and local volunteers for their swift efforts and urged residents to cooperate fully with emergency personnel.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families,” the statement read. “The nation stands united in grief and solidarity during this time of immense sorrow.”

The flooding in Mokwa adds to a growing trend of climate-related disasters in Nigeria. In 2022 alone, over 600 lives were lost and more than 1.3 million people displaced due to severe flooding across the country.