Devastating Floods In Niger State, Nigeria, Claim 115 Lives As Toll Expected To Rise.
At least 115 people have lost their lives in catastrophic flash floods that tore through parts of central Nigeria’s Niger State, an emergency services official confirmed on Friday. The disaster, triggered by torrential rains late on Wednesday, has left a trail of destruction in the city of Mokwa, with more than 50 homes swept away and many residents still unaccounted for.
Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told AFP, “We have so far recovered 115 bodies, and more are expected to be recovered because the flood came from a far distance and washed people into the River Niger. Downstream, bodies are still being recovered.” He warned that the death toll is likely to climb as rescue operations continue.
The relentless flooding, which has overwhelmed local communities, is part of a broader pattern of destruction during Nigeria’s six-month rainy season, which has only just begun. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued warnings of potential flash floods across 15 states, including Niger, between Wednesday and Friday. Poor infrastructure, inadequate drainage systems, and the construction of homes on waterways have exacerbated the crisis, with waste-clogged drains further compounding the problem.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly into Friday, scouring the affected areas for missing residents. “We expect the toll to rise considerably because there are different rescuers at different locations,” Husseini added.
The floods come on the heels of one of Nigeria’s worst flooding disasters in 2024, which claimed over 1,200 lives and displaced 1.2 million people across 31 of the country’s 36 states, according to the National Emergency Management Agency. Scientists have pointed to climate change as a key factor driving increasingly extreme weather patterns in the region.
President Bola Tinubu, responding to the tragedy, assured citizens that the federal government would ensure no victim is left behind. “We are committed to supporting those affected by this disaster,” he said in a statement.
The recurring devastation caused by flooding underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and urban planning in Nigeria. As the rainy season progresses, authorities are bracing for further challenges, with communities across the West African nation remaining on high alert.
As rescue efforts continue and the nation grapples with the aftermath, the focus remains on saving lives and addressing the systemic issues that leave Nigeria vulnerable to such tragedies year after year.
