In northern Nigeria, the death toll following catastrophic flooding in the market town of Mokwa has climbed to at least 151 as of Saturday, according to local emergency responders. Efforts to locate more victims continue in this crisis-stricken area, underscoring the devastation the flooding has brought.
Earlier on Thursday, during the predawn hours, Mokwa was inundated with torrential rainfalls that triggered the destructive flooding. This town, located roughly 380 kilometers (236 miles) west of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, serves as a significant trading and transportation center, where northern farmers exchange crops such as beans and onions with southern traders.
Recent updates from the Niger State emergency service revealed the escalating casualties, confirmed by spokesperson Ibrahim Audu Husseini. Furthermore, the calamity has resulted in injuries to at least 11 individuals and displaced over 3,000 residents.
The intense flooding rapidly materialized over just five hours and affected nearly 500 households across three communities. Floodwaters rose to such a level that only rooftops were visible, while surviving inhabitants found themselves wading waist-deep through the waters, attempting to save their belongings and help others.
The disaster also caused significant infrastructure damage, with two major roads washed away and two bridges collapsing amidst the chaos.
In a statement released late Friday, President Bola Tinubu extended his sympathies to those affected and announced an emergency response aimed at supporting the victims and hastening the recovery process.
Moreover, security agencies have been instructed to cooperate in the ongoing emergency operations, particularly as there are concerns about recovering more bodies from the more remote areas. “Efforts to supply relief materials and temporary shelters are underway without delay,” asserted the president, reassuring that “no affected Nigerian will be left behind or unheard.”
Flooding tends to be a common event during the rainy season in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the communities in the northern parts have experienced prolonged periods of drought, exacerbated by climate change trends and bursts of intense rain that induce severe flooding. However, the severity of the flooding in Mokwa, located near the River Niger, has been unexpectedly deadly.
Local community leader Aliki Musa highlighted that the villagers are unaccustomed to floods of this magnitude, and Mokwa’s local government chairman, Jibril Muregi, emphasized to local news sources the urgent need for flood-control infrastructures, which he states are long overdue.