At least 110 people have died following catastrophic flooding in central Nigeria, triggered by relentless torrential rains, officials confirmed.
The floods hit Niger State especially hard, with Mokwa town bearing the brunt of the destruction. According to Abullahi Baba-Arah, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), heavy rainfall lasting several hours caused surging floodwaters to engulf and destroy more than 50 homes—many with residents still inside.
The districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Mokwa were among the worst affected. Locals say the scale of devastation is unlike anything they’ve seen in decades.
It has been 60 years since we witnessed something like this,” said Mokwa’s District Head, Muhammad Shaba Aliyu. “I beg the government to support us.”
In response, the Nigerian government has expressed deep sorrow over the disaster. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said emergency services and security forces have been deployed to assist in ongoing search and rescue efforts.
With many residents still unaccounted for, the true toll may yet rise. Survivors like local fisherman Danjuma Shaba have been left with nothing. “I don’t have a house to sleep in. My house has already collapsed,” he told reporters.
Flooding is a recurring crisis during Nigeria’s rainy season, which stretches from April to October. Authorities have warned that at least 15 of the country’s 36 states are at risk of similar downpours in the coming weeks.
In recent years, Nigeria has faced increasingly severe weather events. In 2022, flooding displaced over 1.3 million people and claimed more than 600 lives. Last year, northern states experienced deadly rains that damaged infrastructure and forced thousands from their homes.
As climate change continues to exacerbate weather extremes, communities like Mokwa are left pleading for long-term support, better infrastructure, and more effective disaster preparedness.
