More than 200 people have been confirmed dead and over 500 remain missing after a deadly flood swept through Mokwa town in Niger State last Wednesday. The flood, triggered by heavy overnight rainfall, devastated the Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa districts, destroying homes and displacing thousands. Local officials say it is the worst flooding the area has seen in six decades.
Many victims include women and children, with reports that some Qur’anic school pupils were among those swept away. Survivors told harrowing stories of losing loved ones, with one man saying he watched helplessly as water carried away his wife and newborn. There are also concerns that a nearby dam may have contributed to the disaster, though authorities are yet to confirm this.
Local leaders have called for urgent intervention, saying many displaced residents are sleeping in the open without aid. A collapsed bridge in Mokwa has also cut off food supply routes, affecting markets in southern Nigeria. The WHO has stepped in to assist with emergency health support, while the U.S. government and other humanitarian groups have expressed condolences and pledged support.
