Mokwa Flood Death Toll Climbs to 153 as More Victims Are Found – NSEMA
At least 153 people have been confirmed dead following the catastrophic flooding in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, which has left thousands displaced and widespread destruction in its wake.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) told Channels Television on Sunday that the death toll rose from 115 after more bodies were recovered beneath a bridge in Mokwa on Saturday and buried early Sunday morning.
According to NSEMA’s Acting Director General, Ibrahim Hussaini, a total of 3,018 people across 503 households have been affected by the disaster. The number of confirmed injured stands at 11, while three bridges were damaged by the floodwaters.
Extensive Damage Across Communities
In the community of Ndayako, although no fatalities were reported, 98 individuals were impacted, with damage to 58 houses and 17 households. In Raba, five houses and one bridge were damaged, but no deaths occurred.
The flooding followed intense rainfall that began Wednesday night, displacing over 3,000 residents, according to Hussaini.
Red Cross official Adamu confirmed 121 people were receiving treatment in hospitals, and more than 100 others remained missing. Search and rescue operations continue, with responders needing heavy equipment to reach areas where victims may still be buried.
Grief and Devastation
In the town, roughly 350 kilometers from Abuja, families are still desperately searching for missing loved ones. Mohammed Tanko, a 29-year-old civil servant, recounted the loss of at least 15 family members from a single home.
“We lost everything,” he said.
One survivor, Sabuwar Bala, a 50-year-old yam seller, described fleeing the floods with only her underwear. “Someone loaned me these clothes. I couldn’t even save my flip-flops,” she said. “I can’t locate where my home stood because of the destruction.”
Contributing Factors and Warnings
Flooding in Nigeria is worsened by poor infrastructure, blocked drainage systems, and construction on waterways. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) called the Mokwa disaster “a tragic reminder” of the dangers of building on flood-prone land and the importance of keeping water channels clear.
A mosque in Mokwa, where a group of travelers had been sheltering, collapsed during the storm, and the identities of the victims remain unknown, adding to the difficulties of accounting for all the missing.
Government Response
President Bola Tinubu confirmed that emergency relief and recovery efforts are being supported by the security forces.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued warnings about possible flash floods in 15 states, including Niger, ahead of the rains that triggered this tragedy.
In 2024, 321 people died in flood-related incidents across 34 of Nigeria’s 36 states, underlining a growing climate crisis that is driving more extreme weather conditions.
Mokwa Flood Death Toll Climbs to 153 as More Victims Are Found – NSEMA
At least 153 people have been confirmed dead following the catastrophic flooding in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, which has left thousands displaced and widespread destruction in its wake.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) told Channels Television on Sunday that the death toll rose from 115 after more bodies were recovered beneath a bridge in Mokwa on Saturday and buried early Sunday morning.
According to NSEMA’s Acting Director General, Ibrahim Hussaini, a total of 3,018 people across 503 households have been affected by the disaster. The number of confirmed injured stands at 11, while three bridges were damaged by the floodwaters.
Extensive Damage Across Communities
In the community of Ndayako, although no fatalities were reported, 98 individuals were impacted, with damage to 58 houses and 17 households. In Raba, five houses and one bridge were damaged, but no deaths occurred.
The flooding followed intense rainfall that began Wednesday night, displacing over 3,000 residents, according to Hussaini.
Red Cross official Adamu confirmed 121 people were receiving treatment in hospitals, and more than 100 others remained missing. Search and rescue operations continue, with responders needing heavy equipment to reach areas where victims may still be buried.
Grief and Devastation
In the town, roughly 350 kilometers from Abuja, families are still desperately searching for missing loved ones. Mohammed Tanko, a 29-year-old civil servant, recounted the loss of at least 15 family members from a single home.
“We lost everything,” he said.
One survivor, Sabuwar Bala, a 50-year-old yam seller, described fleeing the floods with only her underwear. “Someone loaned me these clothes. I couldn’t even save my flip-flops,” she said. “I can’t locate where my home stood because of the destruction.”
Contributing Factors and Warnings
Flooding in Nigeria is worsened by poor infrastructure, blocked drainage systems, and construction on waterways. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) called the Mokwa disaster “a tragic reminder” of the dangers of building on flood-prone land and the importance of keeping water channels clear.
A mosque in Mokwa, where a group of travelers had been sheltering, collapsed during the storm, and the identities of the victims remain unknown, adding to the difficulties of accounting for all the missing.
Government Response
President Bola Tinubu confirmed that emergency relief and recovery efforts are being supported by the security forces.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued warnings about possible flash floods in 15 states, including Niger, ahead of the rains that triggered this tragedy.
In 2024, 321 people died in flood-related incidents across 34 of Nigeria’s 36 states, underlining a growing climate crisis that is driving more extreme weather conditions.
