Mokwa Flood Tragedy: Over 150 Dead, Thousands Homeless in Niger State Catastrophe [VIDEO]

The town of Mokwa in Niger State is reeling from a catastrophic flood that has claimed at least 151 lives and left thousands displaced, as emergency response teams work around the clock to rescue missing persons and provide aid to survivors. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the grim figures, noting that more than 3,000 residents have been uprooted from their homes by the devastating deluge.

The disaster, which has drawn national attention and sparked a wave of grief and concern, struck with brutal force, following days of relentless rainfall. Entire households were washed away, roads collapsed, and critical bridges linking parts of Mokwa were swept aside, leaving residents stranded and communities cut off from essential services.

According to Ibrahim Husseini, the spokesperson for NSEMA, at least 503 households were directly affected. He reported that three communities in Mokwa bore the brunt of the catastrophe, with Hausawa and Tifin Maza areas being completely overwhelmed by rising waters. Speaking both through an official document and a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Husseini detailed the scale of destruction, emphasizing that two major roads and two bridges were destroyed, further hampering rescue and relief efforts.

“More than 3,018 people have been displaced by this flood,” Husseini stated. “The figures we’re seeing are heartbreaking. The damage is widespread and the human toll continues to rise.”

Rescue operations are ongoing, but authorities say several people remain unaccounted for. Emergency crews and local volunteers have been deployed to comb through submerged buildings and debris in search of survivors. The harsh terrain and compromised infrastructure have complicated these efforts, increasing concerns that the death toll could rise further.

The catastrophic impact of the flooding is being attributed to unusually intense and prolonged rainfall. Meteorological reports leading up to the event had warned of significant downpours, but few could have anticipated the sheer volume of water that eventually inundated the town.

Scenes from the area depict a community in anguish. Houses have been reduced to rubble, entire families have been uprooted, and makeshift camps now host the displaced, many of whom escaped with little more than the clothes on their backs. Aid agencies and local health officials are racing against time to ensure access to clean water, food, and medical supplies to prevent further loss of life due to disease and exposure.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, responding to the gravity of the situation, described the disaster as “distressing” and pledged that every affected Nigerian would be accounted for. “No one will be left behind or unheard of,” the president declared in a statement released by his office. He revealed that the National Emergency Response Centre had been activated immediately upon receipt of early reports from the scene.

“The suffering of the people of Mokwa is not just a local or state concern—it is a national tragedy,” Tinubu added. “The federal government is fully mobilized to bring relief and restore hope to the affected communities.”

The flooding has also prompted calls for better urban planning and improved disaster preparedness across the nation. Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that Nigeria’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change and poor drainage systems, could lead to more frequent tragedies unless proactive measures are taken.

Local leaders have joined the president in calling for urgent intervention, including the reconstruction of critical infrastructure and provision of psychosocial support for survivors who are grappling with the trauma of loss.

As Mokwa begins the painful process of recovery, the community faces daunting challenges. Rebuilding homes, reconnecting cut-off neighborhoods, and restoring essential services will require sustained government support, donor intervention, and community resilience.

For now, the priority remains on finding those still missing, caring for the displaced, and ensuring that the flood’s terrible impact does not claim even more lives in its aftermath.