Mokwa Floods: 700 feared dead as relief efforts begin
No fewer than 200 people have been confirmed dead following severe flooding that struck Mokwa, a town in Niger State, last Thursday. Authorities say more than 500 people are still missing, making it one of the deadliest flooding incidents in over 60 years.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched initial relief efforts, while the Nigerian Red Cross has warned of “significant loss of life and widespread distress.”
Recovery and Relief Underway
According to the BBC, Mokwa’s Deputy Vice-Chairman, Musa Kimboku, confirmed that official search-and-rescue efforts have been suspended.
“We no longer believe that survivors can be found,” he said. “We have informed neighbouring villages to bury any corpse that they find.”
District Head Muhammadu Aliyu, the BBC reported, added that authorities will begin recovering bodies that may have been buried underground by the floodwaters.
“Some bodies have passed through the River Niger. Others are buried in the mud. We will start digging them out to prevent disease outbreaks,” he said.
On Sunday, NEMA announced that it had begun distributing relief packages to displaced residents.
The agency also confirmed that key infrastructure—such as roads and bridges—had been severely damaged, further affecting transportation and local trade.
Residents Mourn Losses
For many survivors, the trauma is fresh. Adamu Yusuf, who lost his wife and newborn baby, recounted the harrowing moment the floodwaters engulfed his home.
“I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim,” he told the BBC.
Another resident, Saliu Sulaiman, said he lost not only his home but also the cash proceeds from his farm.
“I lost at least $1,500 to the floods. It was the proceeds from the sale of my farm produce the previous day,” he said. “I contemplated going back into the room to get it, but the pressure of the water scared me.”
According to witnesses, the floods reached such intensity that bodies were found as far away as Rabba, a town over an hour’s drive from Mokwa.
