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03-06-2025
ABUJA: The death toll after deadly floods hit the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday has risen to more than 200, officials say.
There are still 500 people missing in the town in north-central Niger State, as a search mission continues.
The deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, told media that rescue efforts have ceased because authorities no longer believe anyone could still be alive.
The floods, said to be worst in the area for 60 years, swept through the towns of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after a bout of torrential rain.
In an effort to prevent disease in the area, authorities will soon start to dig out corpses buried underground, Mokwa’s district head Muhammadu Aliyu said.
Recounting scenes of catastrophe, local residents told media that they saw their homes and family members get washed away.
One man, Adamu Yusuf, lost his wife and newborn baby.
“I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim,” he told media.
Another resident, Saliu Sulaiman, said the floods had left him homeless and destroyed some of his cash business profits.
“I lost at least $1,500 to the floods. It was the proceeds from the sale of my farm produce the previous day. I contemplated going back into the room to get it, but the pressure of the water scared me.”
On Sunday, the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) announced it had started the process of providing relief packages to people affected.
The agency added in a post on Facebook that roads and bridges were also affected by the flood, which has had a knock-on effect on the local economy and traffic.
The Nigerian Red Cross also released a statement on Friday saying the floods had caused “significant loss of life and widespread distress”.
Floods are not uncommon during the Nigerian rainy season, which lasts from April until October.
In 2024, Nigeria experienced flooding from heavy rain which caused deaths and drove people from their homes.
There was also severe flooding in 2022, when more than 600 people died and 1.3 million were displaced.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society expresses deep sorrow over the devastating flooding that struck Kpege-Mokwa in Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State, in the early hours of May 29, 2025. Heavy rainfall began around 3:00 AM while many residents were asleep, resulting in significant loss of life and widespread distress.
According to the authorities, 21 bodies have been recovered from the floodwaters, with search and rescue operations ongoing to locate additional victims. Our volunteers are actively engaged on the ground, providing critical search and rescue assistance as well as first aid services to survivors.
The Nigerian Red Cross remains committed to supporting the Government through search and rescue efforts and reaching the affected communities with emergency relief. We will continue to coordinate with local authorities and partners to ensure timely and effective response.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and continue to support the Nigerian government in aiding all those impacted by this accident.
Further updates will be provided as the situation develops. (Int’l News Desk)
