ISLAMABAD: Flash floods in north-central Nigeria have claimed the lives of more than 200 people, officials confirmed Tuesday, as hundreds remain missing and feared dead.
The worst flooding in recent memory struck the town of Mokwa in Niger State last Thursday, devastating over 250 homes and leaving large parts of the town submerged in water and debris.
Devastating Impact and Search Efforts
The floodwaters, caused by overnight rains, overwhelmed the town in a matter of hours, sweeping away homes and washing bodies downstream as rescue teams continue to comb the area. Ahmad Suleiman, Niger State’s humanitarian commissioner, told Nigerian media that the death toll has climbed above 200, but the true number remains uncertain as search operations persist.
“We have more than 200 corpses,” Suleiman said, adding that many more victims could still be unaccounted for. Volunteers have recovered bodies nearly 10 kilometers away, carried by floodwaters into the Niger River.
The scale of the disaster in just one morning could surpass Nigeria’s total flood deaths in 2024, which were 321 nationwide.
Causes and Community Challenges
Residents pointed to both natural and human factors worsening the floods. Water had accumulated behind an abandoned railway track on the town’s outskirts, blocked by debris that prevented normal drainage through culverts.
When the clay embankments broke, the sudden surge caused catastrophic flooding.
This tragedy highlights ongoing issues in Nigeria such as poor drainage infrastructure, homes built on waterways, and waste dumping that clog channels.
Despite warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency about possible flash floods in 15 states, including Niger, locals say the government response has been slow and inadequate. Aid has been delivered, but many families report receiving no assistance amid the aftermath’s stench and destruction.
