The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NISEMA) has confirmed that the death toll from the devastating floods in Mokwa Local Government Area has risen to 151 as of Saturday, with more than 3,000 people displaced and hundreds of homes destroyed.
According to the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Mallam Hassan Mohammed, the floods—which struck on Wednesday night—ravaged three major communities, leaving 508 households affected. He noted that 256 houses were completely washed away, with residents losing all possessions.
Infrastructural damage was also severe, with two major roads and two bridges cut off, disrupting transport and emergency access. The disaster is one of the worst flooding incidents in recent memory in Niger State.
A particularly symbolic loss was the uprooting of a 100-year-old tree located in the heart of Mokwa town, a development that many locals view with spiritual significance.
One elder, Alhaji Usman Baba Mokwa, 75, who spoke through an interpreter, said:
“We have experienced heavier rains in the past, but never with this level of destruction. This flood feels different. It may have deeper meaning, though we can’t be quick to conclude.”
A high-powered delegation from the Federal Government, led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, visited Mokwa on Saturday to commiserate with the victims and assess the scale of destruction.
The Minister described the flood as tragic and devastating, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been fully briefed on the incident. He said the President had directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other security agencies to intensify search, rescue, and relief efforts.
“Our priority is to save lives and support the survivors. Relief is already being mobilized through NEMA, and the Federal Government is fully committed to ensuring that affected families receive assistance,” the Minister stated.
He added that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) would begin an awareness campaign to sensitize communities vulnerable to climate-related disasters and promote early warning preparedness.
Also speaking, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatdo, extended the Federal Government’s sympathy to the Niger State Government and affected families.
He assured that the Ministry would conduct a thorough needs assessment and provide targeted support to internally displaced persons (IDPs). Professor Yilwatdo also suggested that the severity of the flooding may be linked to climate change, calling for urgent environmental and infrastructure interventions to prevent future occurrences.
