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MINNA, Nigeria - At least 21 individuals, including children and adults, have been confirmed dead, with over 10 others still unaccounted for, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
This follows a catastrophic flood that devastated communities in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State due to severe rainfall.
Local residents dispute the official figures, asserting that the death toll has exceeded 60, as rescue efforts continue to search submerged homes and farmlands for additional victims. Three individuals a woman and her two children were rescued alive and are currently receiving treatment at Mokwa General Hospital for various injuries sustained during the flood.
The deceased and the missing are believed to have lived in more than 50 houses that were inundated and swept away by the flood, which halted activities in the area.
This tragedy struck the state on Thursday in Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities, following an extended period of heavy rainfall. Local officials and residents have labeled this flood as the deadliest in the town's history.
Community members report that many victims were taken by surprise as floodwaters rapidly inundated residential zones, resulting in the destruction of homes, farms, and vital infrastructure.
Musa Ibrahim, a resident, commented, “The extent of devastation and the number of fatalities we have witnessed in this single event is unprecedented in Mokwa.”
While the precise cause of the flooding remains uncertain, there is speculation regarding a potential release of water from the Kainji Dam.
The Chairman of Mokwa Local Government Area, Jibrin Muregi, acknowledged the increasing casualty toll and urged the Niger State Government and relevant federal agencies to provide immediate assistance with relief supplies and long-term aid for the affected areas.
“This is a tragic day for us. The level of destruction and the high number of lives lost is overwhelming,” the chairman stated.
The Director General of NSEMA, Ibrahim Hussaini, informed reporters in Minna, the state capital, that the disaster occurred during a heavy downpour on Wednesday night, leading to widespread devastation.
He reported that 21 bodies have been recovered thus far, with over 10 individuals still missing as search and rescue operations persist.
NSEMA, in partnership with the Mokwa Local Government, local divers, and volunteers, is actively conducting these operations to find survivors and recover bodies.
