Over 150 dead, thousands displaced as floods ravage central Nigeria
More than 150 people have been confirmed dead and over 3,000 displaced after severe flooding devastated the town of Mokwa in Niger State, central Nigeria. Local authorities say the toll could rise as search-and-rescue efforts continue.
The disaster was triggered by heavy rainfall that began late Wednesday and persisted into Thursday, overwhelming homes and infrastructure in the rural community.
Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said on Saturday that 151 bodies had been recovered—some found nearly 10 kilometers (6 miles) away from Mokwa. At least 265 houses were completely destroyed.
Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris, reporting from the scene, cautioned that the actual death toll could be much higher. “When officials say 151 are dead or missing, you’re likely looking at double or triple that number,” he said.
Residents recounted harrowing escapes as the floodwaters rose rapidly, leaving many with nothing. “We lost everything—our families, our homes. There’s nowhere left to go,” said Mohammed Tanko, a local resident. “We lost at least 15 people from this house alone.”
Another survivor told reporters, “I escaped with only my nightdress. Right now, I can’t even identify where our home used to be.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extended his condolences and announced that search-and-rescue operations were underway with support from national security forces. “Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay,” he said in a statement.
While the cause of the flooding is still under investigation, some locals suspect it may be linked to a dam breach upstream, given the overwhelming volume of water that inundated Mokwa. Officials have not confirmed this.
Meteorologists warn that more rainfall is expected in the coming days, raising the risk of further flooding in the region. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and severity of such disasters to climate change, poor drainage infrastructure, and unregulated construction.
“Flooding has become a regular event between April and October,” said Ugonna Nkwunonwo, a flood risk analyst at the University of Nigeria. “What used to be yearly rainfall now comes in just a month or two, and most communities are not prepared for it.”
Last year, over 1,200 people died and around two million were displaced by similar flooding incidents across Nigeria.
In a statement, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) emphasized the urgent need for better flood preparedness: “This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of building on waterways and the critical importance of keeping drainage channels and river paths clear.”
