The devastating floods that swept through Mokwa in Niger State have once again laid bare the fragility of human security in the face of nature’s fury—and the systemic failure of governance structures meant to prevent such calamities. With at least 150 lives lost, thousands of homes destroyed, and many more missing, this disaster is not only a natural tragedy—it is a humanitarian crisis demanding urgent intervention, accountability, and long-term reform.

According to officials from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the floodwaters came from distant origins and overwhelmed the market town before washing victims into the River Niger. Recovery teams continue their search, and the death toll is tragically expected to rise.

This is not an isolated incident. Every year, Nigeria faces heavy rains and floods that lead to loss of life, property, and livelihood. From Kogi to Bayelsa, Anambra to Adamawa, and now Niger State, the pattern is predictable, the warnings frequent, and the responses all too inadequate.

It is impossible to ignore the glaring questions this tragedy raises: Where were the early warning systems?

Why do we not have sustainable flood prevention infrastructure in a known flood-prone region?

What happened to the billions allocated to ecological and disaster management funds over the years?

Government agencies must do more than issue condolence statements. Nigerians deserve a transparent inquiry into the failure of both federal and state authorities to safeguard vulnerable communities. As a matter of urgency, relief efforts must be fast-tracked, temporary shelters established, and a long-term resettlement and rehabilitation program designed for survivors.

Flood victims are not just statistics—they are mothers, fathers, children, and elders whose fundamental human rights to life, shelter, and dignity have been washed away. As a human rights advocacy platform, Profiles International Human Rights Advocate stands firmly on the side of these affected families and communities. Environmental justice is not separate from human rights—it is at its core.

Nigerians must begin to hold their leaders accountable for preventable disasters. Disaster mismanagement, negligence in environmental planning, and poor infrastructure are all violations of the social contract. These deaths are not just acts of God; they are indictments of a system that has failed its most vulnerable.

The Federal Government should declare Mokwa a disaster zone and mobilise full-scale emergency support; the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to intensify coordination with local and international partners for relief; civil society organisations and human rights groups to independently monitor aid distribution; and the Nigerian public and diaspora to contribute to verified humanitarian funds.

And most importantly, the Nigerian legislature and anti-corruption agencies investigate the application of previous flood intervention funds.

Mokwa’s tragedy must not become another forgotten headline. We must honour the memory of the deceased by demanding better governance, effective disaster management, and respect for the right of every Nigerian to live safely and securely in their homeland. The time for empathy is now. But the time for accountable action is long overdue.

Daniel Okonkwo, Profiles International Human Rights Advocate