At least 20 people, including women and children, have been confirmed dead following a devastating flood that submerged several homes in Mokwa, a commercial town in Niger State, after a torrential downpour that lasted over five hours on Thursday.
The flood, which struck in the early hours of the day, has left the community in mourning, with residents and local authorities scrambling to rescue missing persons and recover bodies swept away by the deluge.
According to residents, the disaster may have been triggered by the collapse of a small dam in New Bussa, a neighbouring town where the Kainji Lake Dam is located. The force of the water overwhelmed homes and infrastructure, cutting off parts of the Ilorin-Mokwa highway and leaving many communities stranded.
“More than 20 bodies, including those of minors and women, have so far been recovered,” said Umar Yunus, a local resident. “Many of them were found in the nearby bushes. Some people are still missing. It’s a tragedy we’ve never experienced before.”
Graphic images and video footage showing the scale of the destruction and the grim recovery efforts.
Another resident, speaking anonymously, said the extent of the damage was worsened by the absence of proper drainage in many affected homes. “The disaster mostly affected areas without functional drainage systems. As I speak, locals are still trying to rescue people and retrieve bodies swept into the forests,” he said.
In a statement, the Chairman of Mokwa Local Government Area, Jibril Muregi, through his media aide, Abdullahi Abubakar, expressed his deep sorrow over the incident.
“This natural disaster has led to the unfortunate loss of lives, destruction of homes, and the displacement of several residents. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all families affected by this tragic flood,” he said.
Mr Muregi called on the Niger State Government and emergency agencies to urgently intervene. “We urgently call on the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), to deploy immediate relief materials and humanitarian assistance to the affected areas,” he appealed.
He also urged the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project to expedite the long-delayed construction of proper waterways in Mokwa to prevent future disasters.
“This critical infrastructure is essential to mitigating future flood risks and protecting lives and property,” he stressed.
The Ilorin-Mokwa highway, a major transportation route in the region, was temporarily closed due to flooding, raising concerns over logistics and emergency response efforts. With more rain forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), residents are on edge.
At Least 20 Dead Including Women, Children As Devastating Flood Hits Mokwa, Niger State pic.twitter.com/qN20VkwdJW
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Emergency responders and volunteers continue to search for survivors and assist displaced families, while community leaders are pleading for swift government support.
As the town mourns, questions are mounting over the state of infrastructure and the need for proactive disaster mitigation, especially in flood-prone regions like Mokwa.
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