In Nigeria’s north-central Niger state, the death toll from a catastrophic flood in a market town has escalated to at least 200, according to local officials. The severe flooding occurred in Mokwa, a key trading and transportation hub situated nearly 380 kilometers (236 miles) west of Abuja, where northern Nigerian farmers traditionally sell a variety of produce, including beans and onions, to traders from the southern regions.
Musa Kimboku, the deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, disclosed the updated fatality count, indicating that rescue missions have been terminated as authorities hold little hope for additional survivors. Efforts are now focused on retrieving bodies from under the debris to prevent the spread of diseases, Kimboku mentioned.
The previous day, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, the spokesperson for the Niger State emergency service, reported that beyond the fatalities, 11 people sustained injuries, and more than 3,000 residents faced displacement. The sudden and dense flood, developing over approximately five hours, impacted at least 500 households across three communities, with water levels rising to waist height and submerging roofs, while survivors attempted to save belongings and help one another.
Additionally, the flood resulted in the destruction of infrastructure, with two roads washed out and two bridges collapsed, Husseini added. President Bola Tinubu offered condolences in a statement released Friday night and announced that an emergency response had been initiated to assist victims and speed up recovery efforts.
Flooding frequently occurs during Nigeria’s rainy season, with northern areas particularly affected by dry spells exacerbated by climate change and instances of heavy rainfall leading to significant flooding during their brief wet season. However, Mokwa, a farming community near the River Niger, has never encountered such severe flooding before.
Mokwa community leader Aliki Musa highlighted the villagers’ unfamiliarity with such extreme flooding events. Meanwhile, Jibril Muregi, the chairman of the Mokwa local government area, voiced to the local news outlet Premium Times that flood-control infrastructures have long been overdue for construction.