A four-hour torrential downpour on Wednesday night has turned into a nightmare for residents of Mokwa, Niger State, unleashing devastating floods that left at least 111 people dead, hundreds injured, and over 5,000 displaced.
The rainfall, unprecedented in intensity and duration, began as a welcome gift for the predominantly farming community. But it soon overwhelmed the landscape, submerging homes, toppling buildings, and sweeping away entire families.
‘We Lost Everything’
Among the worst-hit is the family of Anas Usman. His voice heavy with grief, Usman recounted:
“We were preparing to go to the farm in the morning when our house was suddenly submerged. We lost children, women, and men—seventeen members of our household. The flood just came from nowhere.”
Infrastructure in Ruins, Trade Disrupted
Beyond the tragic loss of life, critical infrastructure has been obliterated. Farmlands, roads, and bridges are in ruins. The collapse of the Mokwa Bridge—a key transport link between Northern and Southwestern Nigeria—has left thousands of commuters and goods stranded.
“If the bridge is not fixed immediately, it will disrupt trade activities between the North and Southwest regions,” said Awual Mohammed, a stranded motorist.
Emergency Response Underway
Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba visited the affected areas on Thursday, assessing the destruction in Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa, and offering condolences at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp. He confirmed that over 100 bodies have been recovered, with search and rescue operations ongoing.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has dispatched relief materials, including food, blankets, and mats, which have been handed to local authorities for distribution.
Zubaida Umar, Director-General of NEMA, noted that the agency is working closely with the Red Cross and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to coordinate efforts. Husseini Isah, NEMA’s Head of Operations in the state, confirmed over 5,000 displaced persons and property losses amounting to millions of naira.
Calls for Action and Climate Awareness
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), through Chairman and Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, expressed deep condolences. He described the disaster as a result of the “stark realities of climate change”, calling for proactive support from citizens and governments alike.
“This is a wake-up call. We must work with the National Security Adviser’s office and NEMA to bolster our disaster preparedness,” AbdulRazaq said.
A Recurring Crisis
This disaster is yet another reminder of Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate-related flooding. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had warned earlier of possible flash floods in 15 states—including Niger. In 2022, similar flooding led to over 1,200 deaths and displaced 1.2 million people across 31 states.
💬 What Can Be Done?
The tragedy in Mokwa highlights urgent questions:
How can urban planning be improved to respect natural water channels?
What infrastructure investments are necessary for climate resilience?
How can early warning systems and community preparedness be strengthened?
Our thoughts are with the people of Mokwa in this time of grief.
